Brigadier Elon Clarke graduated from the Global Strategy Programme at the Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom. He assumed responsibility as the Maritime Air and Cyber Command Brigade Commander on 1 October 2023. Before this appointment, he was the Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence Staff on matters concerning personnel, administration, finance and logistics. He also served as the Jamaica Defence Force Foreign Liaison Officer to Joint Interagency Task Force South, United States of America. He was the first officer to be assigned and was responsible for establishing the post that planned and coordinated counter-illicit trafficking operations in a joint, interagency, and international environment. 

 

Brigadier Clarke is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and, throughout his career, has held several military appointments, primarily within Special Operations and Military Intelligence. He has also served as the Jamaica Defence Force’s representative on the Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP), a joint endeavour of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO).  While assigned to AIRCOP, he participated in a multinational exercise in Dakar, Senegal.

 

Brigadier Clarke holds a Master of Science in Security and Risk Management from the University of Leicester, a Master of Business Administration from the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, and a Master of Arts in International Security and Strategy from King’s College London. He is also a graduate of the United States Army Advanced Military Intelligence Officer Course, and the Canadian Forces French Language Course at the Canadian Forces Language School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada.

 

Brigadier Clarke is the recipient of the Medal of Honour for General Service for operational duties conducted locally, the Medal of Honour for Long Service and Good Conduct, the Jamaica Military Commendation Medal and the United States Defense Meritorious Medal. 

 

He volunteers as an instructor with the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps and is a Florida Keys Toastmasters – Naval Air Station Key West chapter member.