Lt. General Brima Sesay (SL-498) – RSLAF
Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces

BACKGROUND
Lt. Gen Brima Sesay was born on 4 June 1965 in Musaia, Folosaba Dembelia Chiefdom, Koinadugu District in the Northern Region of Sierra Leone. This town is located 12 miles from the district headquarter town of Kabala. He is a Yalunka.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
He attended the National Diamond Mining Company Nursery School from 1969-1971. He attained primary education at the Roman Catholic Primary Schools in Kono and Musaia from 1972-1978. He also attained secondary education in Kabala, Kono and Freetown from 1978-1986. After his sixth form at the St Edwards Secondary School he proceeded to the Fourah Bay College in the 1986/87 academic year. He graduated in the 1990/91 academic year with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (majoring in English Language and Political Science) and a Diploma in Education (BA DipEd). He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). Lt Gen Sesay, on completion of his university education enrolled into the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) as an officer cadet and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 29 October 1991.

MILITARY TRAINING ATTENDED
Lt. Gen Sesay has attended various military courses in his career. Some of them are Progressive Qualification Scheme Level One, Junior Division Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff Brig Genlege – Jaji in Nigeria, the International Logistics Officers Course (ILOC) in the UK, Executive Seminar on Legal Aspect of the Military in a 21st Century Society, Senior Command and Staff Course in Ghana, International Crisis Management Course, Defence Management Course, International Peace Support Operations Course in Ghana, the Next Generation of African Military Leaders Course at the National Defence University, Washington DC, USA, organised by the African Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS),the National Defence College Course, Abuja, Nigeria and the Masters in Strategic Studies Course (MSS) at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria 2010-2011. He recently attended a seminar in Paris, France (Forum of the Institute of Education and National Defence on the African Continent) at the Ecole Milittaire on the theme, “Preconditions for Sustainable Stability in Africa”.

MILITARY APPOINTMENTS HELD
Lt. Gen Sesay has held various appointments in the RSLAF ranging from Platoon Commander, Adjutant, Company Commander, Staff Officer Grade 3 operations, Aide de Camp (ADC), Military Assistant (MA), Second in Command of the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) (a centre which he constructed), SO3 J4 Combat Supplies, SO2 J4 Combat Supplies, Second in Command of the Joint Logistics Unit (JLU), Commanding Officer of the Joint Logistics Units (JLU) (the first RSLAF officer to hold that appointment), Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) of the Joint Force Headquarters (JFC), Commander of the 4 Infantry Brigade Makeni, He was Commander 4 Infantry Brigade until his nomination to attend the National Defence College in Nigeria. After his course at the National Deence College in Nigeria, he was appointed Director of Personnel at the Mininstry of Defence (MOD)Chief of Staff (COS) of the Joint Force Headquarters and Commander 3 Infantry Brigade Murray Town Barracks, Freetown. Later he was Appointed Commander Joint Force (CJF)and Assistant Chief of Defence Staff Operations and Plans (ACDS Ops & Plans)at MoD and Commander Joint Force (CJF) of the RSLAF on two successful periods. Lt Gen Sesay performed excellently in all these appointments to the admiration of both his superiors and subordinates. Currently, Lt Gen Sesay is the Chief of Defence Staff of the RSLAF..

NATIONAL AWARDS
Lt Gen Sesay was awarded the Ministerial Award for Meritorious and Dedicated Service to Colours and the country during the Armed Forces Day celebrations at the National Stadium, Freetown in February 2009. Additionally, Lt Gen Sesay was awarded the Military Officer of the Year 2017 by All Works of Life (AWOL).

FAMILY
He is married to Mrs Sunkaire Sesay and they are blessed with 5 children (4 girls and a boy).

HOBBIES
His hobbies include reading, watching movies (documentaries), jugging and playing volleyball.