Governor General Cynthia Pratt and Capt. Floyd P. Moxey attend the change-of-command ceremony at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Coral Harbour Base on May 8, 2025. LITISHA HENDERSON/BAHAMAS INFORMATION SERVICES
THE WATCH STAFF
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) welcomed a new leader on May 8. After 38 years of RBDF service and five years as commander, Commodore Raymond King passed the mantle to Capt. Floyd P. Moxey in a change-of-command ceremony at Coral Harbour Base. Moxey is the ninth Defence Force commander.
Governor General Cynthia Pratt, Prime Minister Philip Davis, Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe and other senior officials attended the ceremony. The prime minister praised King for his long service to the nation and commended him for his leadership through crises such as Hurricane Dorian, unrest in Haiti and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Davis welcomed Moxey, saying he epitomized what a public servant should be. “Not glamorous, not boastful, but honest, professional, thoughtful,” Davis said. “He started out as a marine mechanic in Mangrove Cay, Andros, worked his way up across 40 years of service, mastering technical operations, legal frameworks and the complex workings of a national security policy.”
For the first time, Davis said, the new commander will be supported by two deputies: Capt. Carlon Bethell and Capt. Natasha Miller.
King thanked his staff, colleagues and family for their support over the years. “As I exit the highest office in this distinguished military, I do so with a sense of pride in the work that we have accomplished together,” he said. In an emotion-filled moment, King’s wife, retired Force Chief Petty Officer Fredricka King, serenaded him at the ceremony with “Never Enough” from “The Greatest Showman” musical.
Later in the ceremony, Moxey noted his work begins immediately with addressing the fleet. “Our operations must be intelligence-driven and forward-looking,” he said. Moxey vowed to increase patrol rotations, add small boat stations in key locations, and ensure service members are fully supported and mission ready. Plans to hold a family support event and expand welfare programs also were announced. Moxey said an anonymous feedback system will give Marines and staff members a safe way to raise concerns, bolstering transparency and trust.
“To strengthen capabilities, the RBDF will pursue long-term maintenance contracts, adopt a predictive supply model, and invest in training for pilots, mechanics and unmanned aerial vehicle operators,” he said. Four new SAFE Boats will be commissioned soon with coastal radar systems to expand surveillance coverage.
“The growing instability in Haiti, where gang violence and political turmoil have displaced tens of thousands, has pushed regional governments — including The Bahamas — to bolster border controls and intelligence operations,” Moxey said. The RBDF will thus expand partnerships with regional allies like the Turks and Caicos Islands, focusing on intelligence sharing and managing migrant activity. The addition of 150 personnel in May will help address staffing needs, he said.
In addition to being a military professional, Moxey is a legal expert, with over four decades of experience in various agencies, including the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of National Security. He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2008 from the University of Wolverhampton and a Certificate of Legal Education from the Eugene Dupuch Law School in May 2011.