The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has bid farewell to Deputy Commander Commodore Humphrey Tawake, marking the end of a distinguished military career spanning more than 35 years.
Officers, soldiers and sailors gathered at Tuvasu Hall at Queen Elizabeth Barracks on June 12 to honour Commodore Tawake as he concluded his tenure as Deputy Commander of the RFMF.
The farewell ceremony recognised his decades of service to the military and the nation, with senior officers, warrant officers, sailors, soldiers and civilian staff paying tribute to his leadership and dedication.
The event concluded with a formal dinner at the Officers’ Mess, where tributes were paid to Commodore Tawake’s professionalism, commitment to service and lasting contribution to the institution.
Commander RFMF Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai praised Commodore Tawake’s unwavering commitment and acknowledged the sacrifices made by both him and his family over the years.
“Major General Kalouniwai commended Commodore Tawake for his exemplary leadership, steadfast commitment to the institution, and the lasting legacy he leaves behind for future generations of RFMF personnel,” the military said in a statement.
Commodore Tawake was appointed Deputy Commander of the RFMF on September 23, 2021, while simultaneously serving as Chief of Navy of the RFMF Naval Division.
Having enlisted in the RFMF in 1990, he built an extensive military career that included command, operational and international peacekeeping roles.
A graduate of the Britannia Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom, Commodore Tawake served as Executive Officer aboard several Republic of Fiji Navy vessels before commanding RFNS Kula and RFNS Kiro. He later held the appointments of Maritime Commander and Support Commander within the Navy.
His first posting at RFMF Headquarters was as Director Peace Support Operations, where he oversaw the training and deployment of Fiji’s peacekeepers.
His international peacekeeping service included deployments to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, East Timor, Iraq and the Golan Heights, where he served as Chief Military Personnel Officer with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force.
Academically, Commodore Tawake is a graduate of the Malaysian Staff College, the National Defence University of Malaysia and the Galilee International Management Institute in Israel. In 2020, he was inaugurated as a Fellow of the Australian War College and later completed a Master of Defence and Strategic Studies from Deakin University in Australia.
The RFMF expressed its appreciation for Commodore Tawake’s “outstanding service and leadership” and wished him and his family success as he embarks on the next chapter of his professional career.
