Rear Admiral Errington Shurland enlisted in the Barbados Defence Force in February 1984.
He is a graduate of the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, United Kingdom and the Command and General Staff College of the United State Army, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Cdre Shurland holds two significant appointments and portfolios within the Caribbean Region. He was appointed Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force on 1 September 2021 and and also serves as the Executive Director of the Regional Security System from 1 February 2017.
Possessing extensive interagency as well as intergovernmental experience, RAdm Shurland has functioned in various diplomatic roles. These roles include Barbados’ representative at the Organisation of American States, the Chief of the Barbados Delegation at the Inter American Defence Board, Barbados’ delegate to the United Nations and the International Maritime Organisation. Regionally, he has performed strategic duties as an adviser for Barbados’ delegation to negotiate Maritime Boundaries and Fisheries Agreements with Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.
He holds a Master’s degree in Maritime Administration from the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden and is certified in Elections Management and Mediation from the American University and the University of Windsor respectively.
RAdm Shurland’s contribution to security and defence education throughout the Americas was recognized and awarded by the William J Perry Center for Hemispheric Defence studies in September 2022.
RAdm Shurland is a Justice of the Peace, and his military honours include the Services Medal of Honour, the General Service Medal, the Humanitarian Medal, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, the Governor-General’s Medal of Honour, and two Defence Board Commendations.
Incoming Chief of Staff
Brigadier General Carlos Lovell, JP, MA, ADC, MCMI, pcsc
Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Carlos Lovell joined the Barbados Defence Force on 22nd July 1998, already embodying the qualities of a soldier, officer, and gentleman.
Brig GenLovell graduated with merit from Kings College London, United Kingdom, with a Master of Arts in Defence Studies. He is a graduate of the Joint Services Command and Staff College (UK) and the Special Operations School, Shijiazhuang Army Command Academy, People’s Republic of China. During his distinguished career, he has held various significant appointments in the Barbados Defence Force. He was appointed Commanding Officer of the Barbados Regiment, Principal Staff Officer and Military Advisor to the Chief of Staff. He was also appointed Aide-de-Camp to former Governor-General of Barbados. In addition to his military command appointments, he has also served in several operational and administrative appointments.
Brig Gen Lovell has demonstrated exceptional versatility as an officer, exhibiting strategic diplomacy in various roles. Notably, he has represented Barbados at the Caribbean Nations Security Conference Regional Working Group and the Caribbean Heads of Defence Working Group, showcasing his outstanding leadership. He has also performed key roles, such as Lead Planner and Coordinator for the Caribbean Heads of Defence Conference and Host Nation Director for Exercise TRADEWINDS 2017. Regionally, his pivotal role in developing an Explosives Search Capability has significantly contributed to the preparedness of sister islands like Antigua and Barbuda in preparation for hosting large-scale events, including the Cricket World Cup 2007.
Brig Gen Lovell, a true statesman and a respected figure in Barbados, was chosen to attend the highly esteemed National Defence Academy in the United Kingdom. As the first Barbadian and the only representative from the Caribbean at the time, he successfully completed the military qualifications of an Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC) and obtained a postgraduate degree in Defence Studies from Kings College London. During his studies, Brig Gen Lovell conducted research on the resilience and fragility of the Russian state, focusing on the volatile relationship between Russia and NATO. His findings emphasized the importance of studying the ways in which Moscow could wield power to influence the European security landscape and its implications. He holds the distinction of being the only Barbadian military officer to have achieved a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies and an Advanced Command and Staff Course qualification from the United Kingdom. In 2016, he was the first Barbadian to be awarded the Governor-General’s Gold Medal of Honour.
Brigadier General Lovell is a Justice of the Peace and during his 26-year military career, his honours include the General Service Medal, the Service Medal of Honour, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Governor-General’s Medal of Honour and the Barbados Humanitarian Service Medal.
Deputy Chief of Staff
Captain (Naval) Mark Peterson, JP, Dip.EDM, MSc (Dist), MMAS, pcsc
Captain (Naval) Mark Peterson enlisted in the Barbados Defence Force on 31 March 2000 and has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of excellence.
Capt (N) Peterson is a well-rounded soldier and officer, with his initial training as an infantry platoon commander where he attended the Basic Officer's Training Course in Trinidad and Tobago in 2001 and was awarded the coveted Baton of Honour. He subsequently conducted follow-up training as a naval officer and successfully graduated from the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, United Kingdom.
Additionally, he has successfully completed various courses of study at notable institutions such as the Shijiazhuang Mechanized Infantry Academy where he was the first Barbadian to attend the Special Operations Platoon Commander’s Course; the Nanjing Naval College where he was again the first Barbadian to attend the Naval Command Course; the Lester P. Pearson Canadian Peacekeeping Centre for Peacekeeping Operations and the United States Army Command and General Staff College for Command and General Staff Course.
Throughout his remarkable career, Capt (N) Peterson has held various significant appointments, including Commanding Officer of the Barbados Coast Guard, Commanding Officer of both HMBS RUDYARD LEWIS and HMBS LEONARD C. BANFIELD only to mention a few of his appointments at the Barbados Coast Guard. He also served as the Force's Training Officer for two (2) Recruit Intakes, as Staff Officer for Operations and Training (G3) and as the Staff Advisor to the Chief of Staff.
In addition to his core military duties, responsibilities, and appointments, Capt (N) Peterson has also demonstrated his multidimensional skills in various extra-military duties. These include serving as a consultant on the revision of Barbados' Maritime Laws, leading the national recovery effort of the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex post-Hurricane Beryl and serving as the Host Nation Co-Director for Exercise TRADEWINDS 2024. Additionally, Capt (N) Peterson holds a Diploma in Architectural Drafting, an Executive Diploma in Management from the UWI Cave Hill, an MSc with distinction in National Security and Strategic Studies from the UWI Mona, and a Masters in Military Arts and Sciences from the US Army Command and General Staff College.
Captain (Naval) Peterson is a Justice of the Peace, a French Commando, a Range Conducting Officer, a USCG-trained Boarding Officer, a Law of Armed Conflict Instructor and a US Navy-trained diver, among other things.
His honours and awards include the General Service Medal, the General Service Medal (Trinidad and Tobago), the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Service Medal of Honour and the Humanitarian Service Medal. He is also the recipient of a Defence Board Commendation.
Commanding Officer Barbados Regiment
Lieutenant Colonel Julia DaBreo, BSc MSc, pcsc
Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Julia Alicia DaBreo began her military career when she enrolled in the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) in August 1994.
Having served 9 years within the Enlisted Ranks and currently 21 years in the Officers’ Corps, Lt Col DaBreo has benefited from various local and overseas training courses. In addition, Lt Col DaBreo has been privileged to serve in several leadership roles within pivotal administrative and operational environments of the BDF.
These appointments have allowed her to gain valuable knowledge, skills and experience which has positively impacted her ability to serve the people of Barbados. Such appointments include: Officer In Charge Health Services, Staff Officer Operations and Training, Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General and President of Barbados, and Commanding Officer Barbados Regiment.
Notable training, colleges and Institutes includes a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, MSc in Public Health from the University of South Wales, United Kingdom; a Master of Arts in Inter-American Defence and Security from the Inter-American Defence College; MSc in International Relations from the University East London, United Kingdom; and United Nations Training of Trainers Certificate.
She proudly claims some personal significant and memorable military achievements including being the first female officer to be posted to the position of Staff Officer Operations and Training at the Barbados Regiment and subsequently, Headquarters BDF; and coordinating and assisting in the first BDF publication of a research paper entitled “Condom Use following a Pilot Test of the Popular Opinion Leaders Intervention”.
She is the proud recipient of a Governor General Award, Service Medal of Honour, General Service Medal, Barbados Defence Board Commendation and Chief of Staff Commendation.
Commanding Officer Barbados Coast Guard
Commander Derrick Brathwaite BSc (Hon), MSc, pcsc
Commander Derrick Brathwaite enlisted in the Barbados Defence Force on January 1997 and in a military career spanning over 27 years, has served in various operational and administrative appointments.
Cdr Brathwaite is a graduate of the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England, and the Naval Command and Staff College of the Peoples Republic of China (PLA) Navy, Nanjing, China.
He holds a Master’s degree in Military Science from the latter institution and a Bachelor’s degree (First Class Honours) from the University of the West Indies. He has also received extensive training in ocean governance and management from the International Oceans Institute (IOI), at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. He is currently pursuing post graduate studies in Resource Management and Environmental Studies at the UWI.
Throughout his career, he has functioned in numerous notable appointments. They include project lead and co-chair of the Barbados National Maritime Security Strategy Development Working Group; Steering Committee Member of the RSS Strategy Development Project; member and secretary of the BDF Pensions Working Group; President of the BDF Officers’ Mess and Commanding Officer of various Offshore Patrol Vessels of the Coast Guard.
Commander D A Brathwaite is a French Qualified Commando, Search and Rescue Planner and United States Coast Guard (USCG) trained Boarding Officer. His military honours include the Services’ Medal of Honour, the General Service Medal, Humanitarian Medal and three Defence Board Commendations.
