Gilbert Toropo

Brigadier General Gilbert Toropo was born on 4th April 1962. He successfully completed his Officer Training course at the PNG Defence Academy and was commissioned as an officer with a rank of Second Lieutenant on the 20th of June 1987. After graduation, he was posted to the Second Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (2RPIR) for regimental duties.

Brigadier General Toropo was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1993 and was posted to the Royal Military College – Duntroon in Australia as an instructor from 1993 to 1994. In 1996, he was promoted to the rank of Major, and was posted as the Officer Commanding Special Force Unit.

In 1997, he was posted to Officer Cadet Training Wing at the PNG Defence Academy as a senior instructor. The following year, he was posted to Headquarters PNGDF as Staff Officer Grade 2, Directorate of Land Operations, under Operations Branch. In 2001, he was selected to attend the Command and Staff College in Canberra, Australia.

On completion of Command and Staff College, Brigadier General Toropo was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and posted as Research Officer and Military Assistant to the Commander PNGDF. In 2004, he undertook a year-long study posting to the Centre for Security and Strategic Studies and Diplomacy in Paris, France.

In 2005 to 2006 he served as the Commanding Officer of First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (1RPIR) at Taurama, Port Moresby. After completing his command he was selected in 2007 to attend the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies in Canberra, Australia.

On return to Papua New Guinea, he was posted as Director Other Ranks Management from 2008 to 2012. Brigadier General Toropo was then promoted to the Rank of Colonel and appointed Chief of Joint Operations and was responsible for all security operations within the country.

On January 09, 2014, the National Executive Council appointed Brigadier General Gilbert Toropo as the Commander of PNG Defence Force. After serving his first term as the Chief of Defence Force, Brigadier General Toropo was again reappointed on June 14, 2018 for a second term.

He is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Command and Staff College and the Center for Defence Strategic Studies (CDSS) in Canberra, Australia. He also attended other short courses and seminars on military art, management and strategic studies in United States, Australia, New Zealand and France. He is a graduate of US Ranger School.

Brigadier General Gilbert Toropo is a recipient of the Distinguished Military Service Medal (DMS) and the Commander of the British Empire (CBE).