Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Gilbert Toropo

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

is a

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

n Army officer who is the current

Commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

of the

Papua New Guinea Defence Force The Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Papua New Guinea. It originated from the Australian Army land forces of the territory of Papua New Guinea before independence, coming into bei ...

(PNGDF). Toropo was born in the

Southern Highlands Province Southern Highlands is a province in Papua New Guinea. Its provincial capital is the town of Mendi. According to Papua New Guinea's national 2011 census, the total population of Southern Highlands (after the separation of Hela Province) is 515,511 ...

. During his career in the PNGDF's Land Element, he commanded the 1st Battalion of the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment as well as the PNGDF's joint task force, and was promoted to the rank of colonel in 2012. During 2007 he undertook a year-long training course at the Australian Defence Force's

Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies The Australian Defence College (ADC) comprises three joint education and training organisations operated by the Australian Defence Force in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: * the War College, * the Australian Defence Force Training Cent ...

in Canberra. Toropo was announced as the commander of the PNGDF on 9 January 2014, replacing Brigadier General

Francis Agwi Brigadier General Francis Wanji Agwi, CSM, CBE, DSM (born ?) is a Papua New Guinean Army officer who served as the 9th Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. On 26 January 2012, Brigadier General Agwi was briefly captured and held pri ...

who had reached the end of his period in the office. At the time he was 51 years of age. Toropo was sworn into his new role on 31 January 2014. Already a

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(MBE), Toropo was appointed

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(CBE) in the

2014 Birthday Honours The 2014 Birthday Honours were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as part of ...

. In February 2020 the

Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-own ...

reported that the

Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) is a national police force with jurisdiction throughout all of Papua New Guinea. History The RPNGC was formed from two predecessor bodies that existed prior to the independence of Papua New Guinea. ...

was seeking to interview Toropo in relation to allegations of corruption. Toropo denied the accusations, and has stated that he is willing to be interviewed.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toropo, Gilbert Year of birth missing (living people) Papua New Guinean military personnel Living people People from the Southern Highlands Province Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Commanders of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force