Captain Elton Bennett

Commander Belize Coast Guard

Captain Elton Bennett was sworn in as the third Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard on the 28 November 2019. His twenty-four-year military career started in the Belize Defence Force where he served in various technical and leadership capacities. In August 2005, Captain Elton Bennett was one of two Staff Officers to be seconded to the Belize Coast Guard in preparation its formation on 28 November 2005. He has held key appointments throughout his Coast Guard Career. From 2005 to 2006 Captain Bennett was appointed as a maritime expert to the Belize Technical Team that Negotiated territorial boundary in the maritime areas of Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. He also served on the Technical Team that negotiated the Belize / Mexico demarcation in 2006. Captain Bennett has represented the Nation of Belize and the Belize Coast Guard on numerous occasions and has led detachments to Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, Jamaica and the Bahamas. Captain Bennett holds a Masters of Arts Degree from Kings College London and is a graduate of the Advance Command and Staff College of the Defence Academy of the UK. He is an alumni of the Perry Center for Hemispheric Defence Studies in Washington DC. In 2010 he earned at Post Graduate Diploma from the United States Naval War College after successfully completing the Naval Staff College. Captain Bennett’s command philosophy is centered around people. He understands the importance of empowering others in order to achieve organizational success. As a Christian his daily devotion is concentrated on the nation; its leaders and those anointed and appointed for service. He believes that living a balanced life is essential for one’s wellbeing. Captain Bennett is married and has two children. Captain Bennett is currently attending the Royal College of Defence Studies in London England and will return to his appointment as the Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard upon completion of his course in August 2021.