Norazmi Muhammad

Pengiran Norazmi, also referred to as Pg Norazmi, is a Bruneian military officer and diplomat whom is the current High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to the United Kingdom since 2020. Additionally, he formerly took office as the tenth commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) from 2015 to 2019.

Biography

Education 
Pengiran Norazmi is a 2011 National University of Malaysia Master of Social Science (Defence Studies) alumnus of the Malaysian Armed Forces Defense College. During his time in Malaysia, he had made a name for himself by being the college's hall of fame and as their 8th member. He has taken a variety of courses both domestically and overseas throughout his career, including International Sub Lieutenant, International Long Navigation, and International Principle Warfare Officer in the United Kingdom. He completed the Junior Staff Course for the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1996, the Naval Staff Course at the Naval War College in the United States in 2003, and the Senior Executives in National and International Security program at the Harvard Kennedy School in December 2014.

Military career 
Pengiran Norazmi graduated as a midshipman from the Britannia Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom in 1989 before joining the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) in September 1987. He was appointed as the deputy commander of the RBN in November 2012 and promoted to captain in the following year. He held this position until 6 March 2015, when he was appointed as the commander of the RBN. On 29 May 2015, he was elevated to the rank of first admiral with the approval of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

During a recent introduction trip to the Philippines, Pengiran Norazmi spoke with his colleague about measures to improve bilateral relations and cooperation. From 8 to 9 June 2015, he led a trip to the Philippines with his spouse at his side. He received a guard of honour during his visit and was cordially welcomed by Vice Admiral Jesus C. Milan at the Philippine Navy Headquarters. The two navy leaders had amicable conversations about expanding their countries' exchanges and cooperation. Vice Admiral Milan honored him by giving him the Flag Rank Command Badge for his visit.

The long-standing and tight bilateral connections between the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and RBN grew even stronger under Norazmi's direction. Both fleets celebrated the 35th iteration of Exercise Pelican and remembered 40 years of defense cooperation in 2016. With improved naval combat and the incorporation of naval aviation, Exercise Pelican has expanded in scale and complexity, highlighting the mutual trust and higher degree of cooperation between the two fleets. He also enthusiastically backed the Western Pacific Naval Symposium Multilateral Sea Exercises in 2015 and 2017, as well as Singapore's first-ever International Maritime Review in 2017.

Pengiran Norazmi invited Admiral Yutaka Murakawa, Chief of Staff of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), to Brunei from 31 January to 2 February 2019. They expressed their appreciation for the cordial and amicable relationships between the two nations' fleets during the phone chat. On 19 April that year, the handover ceremony of First Admiral Othman Suhaili from Pengiran Norazmi was held at the Muara Naval Base. The inspection of the guard of honor, a march parade, a goodbye address by the departing RBN commander, a signing ceremony for the handover certificates, and blessings for the ceremony were among the several events that took place.

Diplomatic career 
On 20 June 2020, His Excellency Pengiran Norazmi was appointed as the new High Commissioner for Brunei Darussalam in London. On 17 September 2020, alongside Hairy Erwandy Raya, the Defense Advisor, paid a visit to the Headquarters Brigade of Gurkhas at Camberley. On 10 December 2020, via video link, Queen Elizabeth II received His Excellency Pengiran Norazmi and gave him his own Letters of Commission as High Commissioner as well as the Letters of recall of his predecessor. Along with Pengiran Dato Yusof Sepiuddin, Special Duty Officer, and Fahmi Abas, Religious Officer, Norazmi visited the London Islamic Cultural Centre on 22 February 2023. The Brunei National Day was celebrated in the center by the delegation headed by His Excellency.

Personal life 
Pengiran Norazmi is married to Pengiran Datin Noralam binti Pengiran Haji Kahar, and together they have six children; 4 sons and 2 daughters. He enjoys jogging, mountain biking, and golf.

Honours 

Pengiran Norazmi has earned the following honours;

National 

  Order of Pahlawan Negara Brunei First Class (PSPNB) – Dato Seri Pahlawan (15 August 2015)
  Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
  Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal (5 October 2017)
  National Day Silver Jubilee Medal (23 February 2009)
  General Service Medal (Armed Forces)
  Royal Brunei Armed Forces Golden Jubilee Medal (31 May 2011)

Foreign 
 :
  Pingat Jasa Gemilang (PJG; 10 October 2017)
 :
 Flag Rank Command Badge (June 2015)

References

External links 
 

Living people
Bruneian military leaders
High Commissioners of Brunei to the United Kingdom
Naval War College alumni
Harvard Kennedy School alumni
Graduates of Britannia Royal Naval College
Year of birth missing (living people)
Bruneian Muslims
Bruneian royalty