Major (Maj) Akeen John Haughton-James joined the Jamaica Defence  Force (JDF) in 2006. He was commissioned as a Second  Lieutenant in December 2007 after completing Initial Officer  Training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS),  United Kingdom. Upon commissioning, he was posted to the  Second Battalion, The Jamaica Regiment (2JR), before being  reassigned in 2008 to the  1 Engineer Regiment (JDF). 

Over his career, Major HAUGHTON-JAMES has completed numerous professional  military education courses, including: the US Marine Corps Combat Engineer Officer  Course, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, USA (2010); the Caribbean Junior Command  and Staff Course (CJCSC), Moneague Training Camp, St. Ann, Jamaica (2014); and the  Canadian Army Operations Course, Fort Frontenac, Ontario, Canada (2015). He has also  served as Directing Staff on the Caribbean Junior Command and Staff Course (CJCSC) and the Junior Command and Staff Leadership Programme. 

 

Major HAUGHTON-JAMES holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Civil  Engineering from the University of Technology, Jamaica (2020) and a Master of Science  in National Security and Strategic Studies from the University of the West Indies (2024). 

Throughout his career, he has held the following appointments: Troop Commander,  Liaison Officer, Adjutant, Officer Commanding, Acting Staff Officer J1 responsible for  Personnel and Administration at Headquarters JDF. He is now the  

Acting Commanding Officer of 1 Engineer Regiment (JDF). His operational experience  encompasses engineering support to kinetic and non-kinetic missions, including combat  engineering support, infrastructure development, and joint inter-agency operations  supporting national security objectives. 

Among his awards to date are: 

– The Medal of Honour for General Service (Jamaica) 

– The Medal of Honour for Long Service and Good Conduct 

Major HAUGHTON-JAMES is a results-driven leader committed to enhancing the JDF’s  engineering capability, developing future leaders, and aligning force readiness with allied  standards and best practices.