Defence Headquarters, 15 April 2026 (RBDF): The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) welcomed Dr. Kristen Johnson, the University of Rhode Island (URI) Vice Provost for Global Initiatives, alongside Rhode Island National Guard (RING) State Partnership Program Staff during a courtesy call on Commander Defence Force, Commodore Floyd Moxey along with members of the RBDF Executive Leadership at HMBS Coral Harbour as part of ongoing engagements with key international partners.
The courtesy call provided an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations and reaffirm the longstanding partnership between the RING and the RBDF, particularly in the areas of maritime and defence education. As such, discussions focused on ways RING, URI, and RBDF can collaborate to support the Bahamas Military and Maritime Academy (BMMA) as it continues to establish its cadre and curriculum.
Following the courtesy call, Dr. Johnson and her delegation were given a tour of the BMMA by Commander Byron Brown, Commanding Officer BMMA. He opined that “This visit marks a positive step toward fostering a collaborative relationship between the BMMA and URI, with a shared commitment to advancing maritime education, training excellence, and leadership development.”
Dr. Kristen Johnson asserted “we deeply value the opportunity to connect academic engagements, industry and military defense engagements, from training to research development, to other types of opportunities.” She shared how the University of Rhode Island can support the Bahamas Military and Maritime Academy through the provision of specialized courses, faculty development initiatives, and knowledge exchange frameworks aimed at enhancing institutional capacity and maritime education standards.
Commodore Moxey expressed appreciation for the opportunity to connect with the University of Rhode Island’s Vice Provost for Global Initiatives as we advance the Bahamas Military and Maritime Academy. This connection will establish a framework for collaboration and cooperation between URI and BMMA to enhance the training and development of military personnel.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force under Commodore Moxey’s leadership, is optimizing excellence by bridging generations and embracing modernization. As such, we welcome the opportunity to engage with Dr. Kristen Johnson of URI, alongside RING State Partnership Program Staff.
