Colonel (Col) Elon C Clarke

Colonel (Col) Elon Cauloyd Clarke prior to his appointment was the Jamaica Defence Force’s Foreign Liaison Officer to Joint Interagency Task Force South, United States of America. He was the first officer to be assigned and was responsible for establishing the post which plans and coordinates counter illicit trafficking operations in a joint, interagency and international environment. Col Clarke served for two years at the Jamaica Defence Force Joint Information and Operations Centre as the Deputy Staff Officer with responsibility for operations planning and interagency coordination.

Col Clarke is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where he received a Queen’s commission in the rank of Second Lieutenant through the Basic Officer Commissioning Course in May 2003. Since then he has held a number of military appointments, including Infantry Platoon Commander, Special Forces Troop Commander, Special Forces Company Second-In-Command and Military Intelligence Company Commander.

He has also served as Training Officer for Recruit Basic Course and Non-Commissioned Officers’ Development Courses at the Jamaica Defence Force’s Military Training Wing (now Caribbean Infantry Training Center) and for the Special Forces Basic Qualification Course currently held at the Caribbean Special Tactics Center.

Col Clarke was deployed as a Special Forces Troop Commander with Task Force North in the Eastern Caribbean during Cricket World Cup 2007 and also served as the Jamaica Defence Force’s representative on the Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP), a joint endeavour of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO). While assigned to AIRCOP he participated in a multinational exercise in Dakar, Senegal.

Col Clarke holds a Master of Science in Security and Risk Management from the University of Leicester and a Master of Business Administration from the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean. He is also a graduate of the Caribbean Junior Command and Staff College, the United States Army Advanced Military Intelligence Officer Course, and the Canadian Forces French Language Course at the Canadian Forces Language School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada.

Col Clarke is the recipient of the Medal of Honour for General Service for operational duties conducted locally, the Medal of Honour for Long Service and Good Conduct and the Jamaica Military Commendation Medal. He volunteers as an instructor with the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps and is a member of the Florida Keys Toastmasters – Naval Air Station Key West chapter.

MAJOR HELEDA THOMPSON

Major (Maj) Heleda A Thompson joined the Jamaica Defence Force on 24 October 1986 and commenced training at the Newcastle Training Depot (now Caribbean Infantry Training Centre (CITC)), Newcastle, St Andrew where she was trained in the fourth female intake. She was Commissioned as an Officer in the rank of Lieutenant in 2008 after completing 22 years of service and was promoted to her current rank in 2017.

During her tenure in the JDF, she has worked as a General Duties Clerk at Headquarters Jamaica Defence Force (HQ JDF) where she held several appointments. She has held other appointments such as, Chief Clerk JDF Air Wing, Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant for JDF Air Wing and the Second Battalion the Jamaica Regiment (2 JR), Senior Non Commissioned Officer in charge of Provisioning, Control and Accounts at JDF Supply Depot (now JDF Logs Coy), Quartermaster 2 JR, Staff Officer responsible for Military Records and Civilian Personnel and Personal Assistant to the Chief of Defence Staff. She has assisted with the training of three female intakes as an Instructor/Platoon Sergeant in 1990, 1994 and 2003. Major Thompson also held the post of Secretary of the Garrison Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess for several years. She is currently the Director of Veterans Affairs.

Major Thompson was deployed to Trinidad and Tobago on three separate occasions as a Logistician, firstly, to assist with the planning and coordination of World Cup Cricket 2007, secondly, to the Fifth Summit of Americas 2009 and lastly to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting also in 2009. She also headed the Logistics Hub at the Norman Manley International Airport for emergency relief after the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010. As a result of her contribution to the Logistics field she was awarded the Medal of Honour for Meritorious Service in 2010. She is also the recipient of the and First Bar to the Meritorious Medal, Medal of Honour and First Bar for Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, Medal of Honour for General Service (Jamaica) and the Jamaica Commendation Medal. She holds a Master of Science Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

Major Thompson is the longest serving female in the JDF at this time with 35 years of service. She is a devoted Christian, a Sunday School teacher and the President of the Military Christian Fellowship. She is a Justice of the Peace.

CAPTAIN ALRICK WILLIAMS, MSc

Captain Alrick WILLIAMS enlisted in the Jamaica Defense Force in July 1996 and completed his basic recruit training at the Jamaica Defence Force Training Depot, where his distinguished military career began.

In a career spanning many years, Captain WILLIAMS has held several key appointments such as Personal Assistant to the Chief of Defence, Brigade Chief Clerk, Maritime Air and Cyber Command, Orderly Room Quartermaster Sergeant for The Jamaica National Reserve, Secretary of the Force Sergeant Major Conference, Liaison Officer for several State Visits and Conferences, Instructor, Logistic NCO and Course Director for the Non Commission Officers Professional Development Courses (English and Spanish) at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC). He also served as member of the Board of Advisor whilst employed at WHINSEC, Secretary of the Garrison Warrant Officers and Sergeants’ Mess Executive Committee, Senior NCO in charge of the Inspector General Department for the Jamaica Defence Force, NCO in charge of recruiting for the Jamaica Defence Force, Recruit Training Instructor, Second in Command of Gun Team for the Visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Gunner for the First Battalion The Jamaica Regiment 1998 March and Shoot champion Team.

He has the distinct privilege of attending several military and professional courses both locally and internationally. Key local courses include Warrant Officer Course, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Cadre, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers Cadre and Potential Non-Commissioned Officers Cadre, graduating from three (3) courses at the top of his class. Overseas training includes Language Teacher Training in Canada, 2019; Peace Keeping Operation, Exercise Trades Winds in Guyana, 1999; Non-Commissioned Officers Professional Development Course in USA, 2006, and Infantry Training, England, 2004.

Captain WILLIAMS holds a Masters in Human Resource Management from Edinburgh Napier University. He is a certified Human Rights Consultant, Master Instructor, Advance Facilitator and Assessor in Business Administration and holds diplomas in Faculty Development Program, Small Group Instructing, NCO Professional Development and Supervisory Management.

He is the recipient of the Queens Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, Medal of Honour for Long Service and Good Conduct, The Army Commendation Medal, The Army Achievement Medal, The Western Hemisphere Board of Advisor Meritorious Medal and Sportsman Achievement Award.

He is an avid fan of Football, Rugby and from time to time enjoys a game of cricket. He is at his best however, when playing a game of basketball and believes that there is no better game in the world. He is married to Donya Maria, has two sons, D’Juan and Ajani and two daughters, Alenya and Danielia.