New incumbent replaces Brig. Gen. Godfrey Bess, retiring after 33 years of service
Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali has appointed Brigadier Omar Khan as Chief of Staff of the Defence Force, replacing Brigadier Godfrey Bess, who has retired after 33 years of service, and will take up a new position in the civil administration. The handover ceremony took place on April 29 at the Camp Ayanganna military base.
Brigadier Khan, who was promoted to that rank a day before taking command, is the 12th Chief of Staff appointed since the Guyana Defence Force was established in 1965. Until now he holds the position of head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency. However, in 2022 he was in charge of the Chief of Staff due to the temporary absence of Brigadier Bess.