Major Brian Gonsalves is to become the new commanding officer of the Bermuda Regiment – taking over from William White.

The Change of Command ceremony is planned for May 30 when Maj. Gonsalves will become Lieutenant Colonel.

"I am delighted and honoured to be appointed by His Excellency to the post of Commanding Officer from May of this year," he said yesterday. "It is an awesome responsibility and I will strive to build on the already excellent reputation that the Regiment enjoys at home and overseas.

"I am thankful for the Regiment and community-wide support received thus far. The current CO is in the chair until May, and I continue to support Lt. Col. White and execute his directives and command plan."

Known as a by-the-book disciplinarian Maj. Gonsalves joined the Bermuda Regiment in 1988 and was commissioned in 1989 after passing out from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, UK.

He served as a Platoon Commander, and in 1991 completed the Platoon Commanders' Battle Camp in the UK.

Maj. Gonsalves developed his civilian career in the financial services industry, working for AIG and later Oil Insurance, before joining the Regiment on a full-time basis in 1994 as Aide-de-Camp to the Governor, Lord Waddington.

In 1996 he was appointed Company Second-in-Command of A Company and commanded B Company from 1997.

He completed the Senior Commanders' Course in 2000 and was appointed Officer Commanding Training Company until 2001.

Maj. Gonsalves rejoined the full-time staff and was the first member of the Bermuda Regiment to be part of the International Military Advisory Training Team in Sierra Leone in 2001.

He served for six months in the West African country as Battalion Advisor.

Maj. Gonsalves returned to his civilian career with the Bank of Butterfield and later AON, while remaining active in the Regiment.

After attending the UK Territorial Army Command and Staff Course in 2002, he took up the appointment as Officer Commanding Support Company.

In 2004, Maj. Gonsalves became the Regiment Second-in-Command, and in 2006 he assumed the full-time appointment of Training Officer.

Educated at Mount Saint Agnes Academy, Maj. Gonsalves developed an early interest in the military through the Bermuda Regiment's Junior Leaders' Programme.

He joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, a university programme which commissions over 70 percent of all US Armed Forces Officers, at St. Leo College in Florida.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in business management.

Married with two sons, Maj. Gonsalves enjoys boating, physical fitness, family time and working around the house.

The appointment of the Regiment CO has been a source of controversy in recent years.

Lt. Col. White's appointment two years ago caused Senator David Burch to call for then Governor Sir John Vereker to be recalled.

Former Regiment Commander Senator Lt. Col. Burch complained then that the selection process has been compromised and had unjustly overlooked the most suitable candidate for "political and personal reasons".