Key Personalities

Key Personalities of the Royal Bermuda Regiment

 

Birgitte, Duchess of GloucesterGCVO

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.

HE Lalgie CiC

 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.  

 Beasley

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.

 Ratteray

 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.

Wood

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.

 Smith

 Capt Shea-Tai Smith

Adjutant (Adjt)


Captain Smith assumed appointment of Adjutant on the 1st July 2022. He joined the RBR in 2005 and commissioned in 2008 on successful completion of the TA Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.  He completed the Platoon Commanders’ Battle Course in Wales. Capt Smith has served in a number of roles, most recently as Second-in-Command of Training Wing, and as the Regimental Sports Officer.  Parallel to Captain Smith’s years of service, he has pursued a fulfilling career in Risk Management and Compliance.

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.  

 Pereira

WO1 Luis Pereira, EM

Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM)

WO1 Pereira was conscripted into the RBR in October 1996 and spent the initial part of his service in training company, in October 1999 he joined the full time staff as storeman, WO1 Pereira has served in every company and has been involved in planning and executing training exercises in Canada, Jamaica, UK and USA. In addition to various hurricane relief operations in Bermuda, WO1 Pereira was attached to the International Military Assistance and Training Team (Sierra Leone) from July 2004 to March 2005 working to train the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces. In October 2011 WO1 Pereira completed the Warrant Officer’s Course with distinction in Jamaica. In March 2023 he completed the All Arms Advanced Drill Course prior to promoting to WO1 on 1 April 2023 and assuming the appointment as the 21st RSM of the RBR. He spends his spare time with his family, watching football, formula one and collecting die cast cars.

Robinson

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.

Patterson

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

Bean

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. 

 

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.

Wainwright    

Maj Kenneth Wainwright 

Officer Commaning Logistics Company (OC Logs) 

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.

 

Capt Andrew Brunett-Herkes

Officer Commanding Training Wing

Captain Burnett-Herkes has held the appointment of OC Training Wing since August 2023. In prior roles he has served as 2IC of Training Wing, 2IC of B Company, and as a Platoon Commander in both A Company and Training Wing. He commissioned in 2015 after completing the Reserve Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

In the private sector he’s employed at Argus Insurance Company as an underwriter. In 2022 he earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation, followed quickly by an Associate in Reinsurance. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Portsmouth. In his spare time he enjoys long walks with his fiancé, Hannah and their dog, Harley and the occasional trip to the USA for a country concert.

Lt Sheldon Fox

Band Officer

Lt Fox enlisted in the RBR in 2013 as a musician. He studied Music Education K-12 at Southeastern University University in Lakeland, Fl. He began instructing at Sandys Secondary Middle School in January 2013, teaching the beginner and advanced bands. He completed the JNCO Cadre in 2016 and graduated from the Senior Musician Course at the US Naval School of Music,Virginia Beach, VA in 2018. In 2018, the was band posted to B Coy, the newly formed HADR company were he serves as the Pl Commander for the Band. In January 2019, Lt Fox was attached to the Jamaica Military Band, JDF where he completed the Student Bandmaster Development Course, Kingston, Jamaica. In 2020, Lt Fox attended The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst Commissioning Course Short.

He is Deputy Bandmaster at The Salvation Army North Street Citadel Corps, and Divisional Bandmaster of the Bermuda Divisional Band. In his spare time he enjoys travelling, and spending time with his wife.

Matvey 

Lt Christopher Matvey

Aide de Camp to Her Excellency the Governor (ADC) 

Lt Matvey assumed the appointment of ADC to Her Excellency the Governor on 1 April 2023.  He joined the RBR in 2010, completed the JNCO Cadre, and spent two years in Training Company before posting to the pay section. In 2014 he joined Full Time Staff as an Orderly Room Clerk.  Lt Matvey attended Commissioning Course Short at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2020 and assumed the position of Assistant Regimental Administration Officer until 31 Mar 2023.  He holds a BSc in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University. In his spare time he enjoys running, playing golf, and spending time with his husband.