Key Personalities of the Royal Bermuda Regiment
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Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, GCVO Colonel-in-Chief The Colonel-in-Chief serves as Royal Patron and in fulfilling this role she makes occasional visits to the Regiment. Since 2006, HRH The Duchess of Gloucester has been the Regiment's Colonel-in-Chief and presented our third set of Colours in 2010. In 2015, HRH The Duchess of Gloucester visited the Royal Bermuda Regiment for its 50th Anniversary and the Bermuda Tattoo. The Royal Bermuda Regiment’s first and longest serving Colonel-in-Chief was HRH The Princess Margaret, who visited the Regiment on numerous occasions, including on inception in 1965 and on our 25th anniversary in 1990. On both of these occasions Colours were presented. |
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Her Excellency Ms Rena Lalgie Governor of Bermuda and Commander-in-Chief The Regiment falls under the remit of Her Excellency the Governor who serves as Commander-in-Chief. The Regiment operates under the Defence Act 1965 and the Commanding Officer is guided by the appointed members of the Defence Board. Delegated Authority to the Government of Bermuda rests with the Minister of National Security. Since 2020, the Governor of Bermuda has been Ms Rena Lalgie. Prior to her appointment as Governor, Ms. Lalgie served as the Director of the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation at HM Treasury. |
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Lt Col Benjamin Beasley, BEM Commanding Officer Lt Col Beasley assumed appointment of CO, RBR on 1 June 2020. He previously served as Training Officer from 2016 and Adjutant from April 2011. He was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in February 2006, originally into the RAF Regiment, but re-branched as a Training Officer in 2007, taking post as OC Trg Dev Flt at RAF Leeming. Following 4 months further professional training at Defence Centre of Training Support he was posted to RAF Leuchars as the Station’s Training and Development Officer. Lt Col Beasley was instrumental in the training for Tornado F3 crew on Op Adana. During his last year in the RAF he oversaw the development of training delivery for the stand up of 6 Sqn (Typhoons) and 58 Sqn RAF Regt. Following Unit Press Officer training at DMOC he was appointed the Deputy Media Relations Officer for Air Officer Scotland & NI. He has completed Junior and Advanced Staff College at Shrivenham, has a BA in Military History and is an experienced rugby player. |
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Maj Larenzo Ratteray, ED Second-in-Command Major Ratteray joined the RBR in 2003 and commissioned in 2005 on successful completion of the TA Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He has served in a number of roles, most recently as Officer Commanding A and C Companies, and as Special Projects Officer. Maj Ratteray has completed the Platoon Commanders’ Battle Course in Wales, Canadian Staff College, and the Advanced Command and Staff Course (Reserve) at the UK’s Defence Academy, Shrivenham. Parallel to Major Ratteray’s years of service, he has pursued a fulfilling career in property and casualty insurance. |
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Maj Thomas Wood Executive Officer Major Thomas Wood took over as the XO to the RBR in July 2021. He was originally commissioned into the British Army in Dec 2001 as an Education and Training Officer. He served in a number of Training roles before being attached to the Royal Welch Fusiliers to deploy to Canada and Iraq in 2004. He then deployed to Northern Ireland in a training role before returning to Iraq in 2007 as the Divisional Psychological Operations Officer. On return, he assumed the role of SO3 Training at 15(UK) Psychological Operations Group. On promotion to Major he completed his MSc in Global Security before attending ICSC(L). He then deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 as the Senior Leadership Mentor to the Afghan National Army Officers’ Academy. He was then posted to Cyprus before his final posting on retirement at the Army Staff Leadership School, where he served as the 2IC and the acting Commanding Officer. A keen rugby player and an ‘enthusiastic but very average’ golfer. |
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Capt Shea-Tai Smith Adjutant (Adjt)
A passionate football supporter and former player, Capt Smith has been a member of the Pembroke Hamilton Club (PHC Zebras) for many years. In 2016 he was instrumental to starting RBR football team, which participates in the Bermuda Corona League. Under his guidance, what started as a football team, has evolved into a sports club. Capt Smith currently serves as President. |
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WO1 Jason Harrell, EM Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) WO1 Harrell initially joined the RBR in January 1993 and served as a recruit instructor and in the Regimental Police (RP) before leaving in 1995 as a Cpl. In 1997 he joined the British Army and served with the 2nd Bn Royal Anglian Regt. He deployed to Cyprus and Northern Ireland, and attended exercises in Jordan and Norway. After leaving the British Army in 2000 he resumed service with RBR initially as an RP before joining staff in 2001 Diplomatic Driver to the Governor. Since then WO1 Harrell has served in every company and has been involved in planning and executing overseas training camps in Jamaica, USA, UK, and Canada. He attached to the Jamaica Defence Force for three months in 2010 to assist in the running of an instructor’s course. In addition to hurricane relief operations in Bermuda, he has deployed on Operation TURKS TEMPEST and most recently on Operation RUMAN, both to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief to the Turks & Caicos Islands. On 1 December 2018 he promoted to WO1 and assumed the appointment of RSM. He spends his spare time with his young daughter, racing motocross, and jet skiing. |
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Maj Dwight Robinson, EM, ED Regiment Career Management Officer (RCMO) Maj Robinson volunteered as a junior musician before finishing high school. He studied Music Education at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga. and attended the Bandmaster Course at the RMSM—Kneller Hall. He received his Warrant in 2002 and was commissioned in 2006. He is a principal member of the Government’s Ceremonials Committee and has been co-producer for the highly-successful Bermuda Tattoos. Maj. Robinson instructs in many areas and can be called upon to assist with hurricane recovery/disaster management. He has been on operations locally as well as to Bosnia-Herzegovina (Op Jebel Sonata--2003) and to the Grand Cayman (Op Cayman Comeback--2004). A licensed helicopter pilot, Maj. Robinson keeps busy. He is a trustee and the principal conductor for the Bermuda Youth Orchestra, has played in a number of local stage productions, is co-lead for the battalion’s SCUBA task force, a boatsman, and is a board member for several local organizations. He enjoys travel and reading as time permits. |
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Capt Jeffery Patterson Officer Commanding Coast Guard Unit CaptPatterson began his career as having been conscripted in November 1990. In November 1991 he was transferred to the then Boat Troop were be became Commander in 1995 and received his Warrant in 2003. He was promoted to Captain in 2021 and now commands the RBR Coast Guard (CG). He is the Regiment's maritime subject matter expert and advises on all marine operations within the CG. In his role he collaborates with and provides support to local and overseas agencies as necessary. WO2 Patterson has a Business Degree in Business focusing on Production and Operations minoring in Entrepreneur Management. He has held positions in the business sector as General Manager, Managing Director and most recently Senior Manager Procurement, Logistics and Fleet. He is married to Jennifer and has two children |
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Maj Kenji Bean Officer Commanding A Company Major Bean assumed the appointment of OC A Company in September of 2022. He was joined the REgiment in 2002 and completed his Recruit Camp and PJNCO Cadre in 2003. After a successful recruit camp as a JNCO in 2004, he completed the TACC at the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst and commissioned. He served as a platoon commander in both A and Training Companies. During that time he attained his Range Qualification and attended Platoon Tactics Course in Brecon, Wales in 2006. He was promoted to Captain in 2009. He has served in various roles including 2iC of B, C and Support Company as well as OC of A and C Company and Regimental Signals Officer. In July 2017 he completed the Primary Reserve Army Operations Course in Kingston, Ontario. He was also a part of the command team of Op Soter during the onset of the Covid pandemic in 2020. Along with his amazing wife of 18 years, they serve as Associate Pastors of Radnor Road Christian Fellowship Church. He obtained a BSBA from Endicott College in 2012. He has over 20 years’ experience in the Merchant Services industry. He is currently the Senior Merchant Specialist of Global Payments Bermuda Limited. He enjoys traveling and spending time with his family and an occasional golf game. |
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Maj Duncan Simons, ED Officer Commanding B Company, Public Relations Officer Maj Simons has held the appointment of OC B Coy since Sep 2022. He previously served as RCMO from Sep 2020 and prior to that served as Adjutant from 2016 with an 8-month break in 2019. He was enlisted in 1998, completed the Junior NCO Cadre in 1999 and after attending RMAS was commissioned in 2000. From 2000-2001 and then 2007-2011 he completed appointments as platoon commander and Company 2IC in both A and C Companies. From 2011 to 2013 he served as Coy Comd C Coy. In 2012 completed the Primary Reserve Army Operations Course at the Canadian Command and Staff College, Kingston, Ontario. From 2013 -2016 he was Special Projects Officer, which among other tasks included an appointment of OC B Coy during Ex Maple Thunder in 2014 as well as serving as the Regiment’s representative to the Caribbean Region Information Operations Council. In 2019 he completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the UK Defence Academy. In civilian life Maj Simons is an architect registered to practice in Bermuda and NY State. He is married with two children. |
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Maj Kenneth Wainwright Quartermaster (QM) A/Maj Wainwright enlisted in 1995 and has held a variety of appointments including 2IC Motor Transport, Quartermaster Admin SNCO, and Pay Section Warrant Officer prior to joining the Full-Time-Staff as Quartermaster in June 2014. In his civilian career has held positions including Country Manager for American Airlines Bermuda, Front Office Manager and then Resort Manager of Wyndham Resort and Spa, and Guest Service Manager at Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel. He has been involved in several boards, chairing the Board of Airlines (4 years), Bermuda College Board (member for Hospitality for 2 years), ATEMPO (currently Vice President), Showtime United Drumline (currently Managing Director), Bermuda Chamber of Commerce Tourism Board (2 years), and Royal Artillery Assoc. (currently Treasurer). In his spare time he enjoys travel, movies, and spending time with his wife and two sons. |
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Maj Preston Gill, CD, OTPM Officer Commanding Training Wing Maj Gill is serving as Officer Commanding Training Wing. He previously served as OC A Coy from November 2018 to September 2022. He had previously served as OC Sp Coy, OC C Coy, and JNCO Cadre Comd for three years. He served as police officer with the Bermuda Police Service in the Police Support Unit, Community Policing Division aand Armed Response Team. Prior to his service in Bermuda he served with the Canadian Army, completing his Officer Training in 1999. He has qualified as a Dismounted Company Commander (Regular Army), completed Officer Professional Education with Canadian Defence Academy, the Canadian Army Tactical Operations Course (ATOC) and served with 2nd Battalion Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry (Regular) Queens Own Rifles, Royal Regiment of Canada and the Lincoln and Welland Regiment. He completed deployments to Bosnia/Croatia as a member of NATO Peacekeeping Mission and to Ukraine as member of NATO Military Training Assistance team (work up training for Iraq for Ukrainian, Polish and Lithuanian Forces). He has served as a Reserve Force Platoon Commander and Company 2IC. Served as Range G3 Collective/Individual Training 4th Canadian Division (LFCA/JTF HQs). He holds BA in Political Science from the University of Manitoba. In 2018 he completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the UK Defence Academy in Shrivenham. |
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Capt Alexander Gibbs Aide de Camp to Her Excellency the Governor (ADC) Lt Alexander Gibbs joined the RBR in 2011, serving in the Band as a bugler before pausing service to attend further education overseas. On returning to Bermuda he continued service in the Boat Troop and completed the JNCO Cadre (Specialist). In 2016 Lt Gibbs attended the Army Reserve Commissioning Course at The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He is a keen diver and is a qualified Special Response (SR) Diver Instructor with the National Academy of Police Diving. In this capacity his has instructed both the Regiment and the Bermuda Police Service. Lt Gibbs commanded the RBR Operational Support Divers in counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics operations during the Americas Cup, and public safety diving operations during the MS Amlin World Triathlon in Bermuda. He has served as a platoon commander in C Coy and more recently assumed the post of Aide-de-Camp to Her Excellency The Governor in March 2019. In his free time, Lt Gibbs enjoys travelling, boating, diving, and fishing. |
