THE BAHAMAS PRIORITISES SECURITY AND DEFENCE COOPERATION WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF A DEFENCE ATTACHE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Washington, DC, USA, 23rd May, 2025. For the first time ever, The Bahamas has a Defence Attaché dually accredited to our Embassy in Washington D.C and to our Permanent Mission to the Organization of American States (OAS). Captain Chapell Whyms, was appointed earlier this year and confirmed in this role at a formal ceremony at the Defence Intelligence Agency, in Washington, D.C., on 17th April 2025.

Captain Whyms (right) at the ceremony with Captain Gregg Gellman

Captain Gregg Gellman, former Senior Official Defence Attaché in Nassau at the US Embassy; currently Chief of the Global Health and Bio Surveillance Division at the National Centre for Medical Intelligence, shared a few words to further congratulate Captain Whyms on his appointment:

I’m happy to see Captain Whyms take the mantle to be the first ever Defence Attaché from The Bahamas. This very important position will allow The Bahamas to strengthen its ties with neighbouring nations and strike strategic partnerships with other countries that aren’t geographically central to the islands. Captain Whyms is a seasoned officer and great friend to the United States, and I look forward to continuing our friendship both personally and professionally.

Captain Whyms’ accreditation marks a major milestone for the growing presence of The Bahamas’ diplomatic footprint, including in global affairs during times of increased turmoil. With more than 35 years of experience as a Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Officer, Captain Whyms has served in a variety of roles from Midshipman to Captain. Most recently, he held the position of Commander of Operations and Commanding Officer for the Northern Bahamas just prior to his joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Captain Whyms is widely respected for leading the Bahamian deployment to Haiti during the United Nations Mission known as Operation Uphold Democracy in the late 1990s. His legacy makes him uniquely qualified to speak to priority matters for The Bahamas, including the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, combating human trafficking, tackling illegal immigration, and fighting financial crime.

The role of a Defence Attaché is to seek strategic areas for security and defence collaboration is to advance military diplomacy with the US Department of Defense and other agencies of Government. The role encompasses a wide range of tasks, including serving as a liaison between Bahamian defence officials and the U.S. military and providing advice to Bahamian Heads of Mission on military matters.