Aminuddin Ihsan () is a former Bruneian

commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces who serves from 2009 until 2014 and also the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 2018 until 2022.

Biography

Early life and education

Aminuddin Ihsan was born on 23 July 1966 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and a Master of Arts degree in

military studies Military science is the study of military processes, institutions, and behavior, along with the study of warfare, and the theory and application of organized coercive force. It is mainly focused on theory, method, and practice of producing mil ...

. He later attended courses such as the United Nations Military Observer (UNMO) and Staff Officer Course, the Battalion Tactics Course and the Joint Staff Course in the United Kingdom. It is notable that he obtained fellowship while in the Australian Defence & Strategic Studies.

Military career

On 19 September 1988, he was officially commissioned into the Royal Brunei Land Forces as a lieutenant. Aminuddin took up many positions during his military career such as a platoon leader of Company 'D' 1st Battalion (1Bn RBLF), troop leader of the Auxiliary Battalion,

commanding officer The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitu ...

in the Infantry Battalion, deputy commanding officer and commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion (2Bn RBLF),

Commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

of the RBAF Training Institute and the Commander of the RBLF. On 31 December 2009, he was appointed as the 8th Commander of the RBAF by succeeding Major General

Halbi bin Mohammad Yussof Halbi Mohd Yussof (; born 22 June 1956) is a Bruneian politician who currently serve as a Minister at the Prime Minister's Office. He is a former member of the Legislative Council of Brunei, and previously served as the Minister of Defence II ...

. Aminuddin would then be succeeded by Mohammad Tawih on 29 January 2014.

Political career

After retirement from the military, he carried out diplomatic tasks as the Brunei High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 15 May 2014 until 30 January 2018. On 12 November 2014,

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

presented credentials to high commissioner Aminuddin at

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It ...

, London. On 24 April 2017, Aminuddin Ihsan was named the 2017 Diplomat of the Year from Asia category during the Tata DIPLOMAT magazine Awards Ceremony. On 30 January 2018, Aminuddin became the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports after an announcement regarding the

cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filing ...

reshuffle was made by the

Sultan Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...

Hassanal Bolkiah Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III ( Jawi: ; born 15 July 1946) is the 29th and current Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei since 1967 and the Prime Minister of Brunei since independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. He is one ...

. After another cabinet reshuffle on 7 June 2022, he would then be succeeded by Nazmi Mohamad as the Minister.

Personal life

Aminuddin Ihsan is married to Datin Nurhayana Janis binti Abdullah and they have three children together. He is the son of the late nobleman, Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Abidin bin Orang Kaya Perwira Abdul Rashid.

Awards and honours

Awards

* 2017 Diplomat of the Year from Asia – (24 April 2017)

Honours

National

Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Third Class (SMB) – (2003) * Pingat Jasa Kiebaktian (PJK)

Meritorious Service Medal (PJK) – (2007) * Ordine del Famoso Valore (Brunei)

Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang The Most Exalted Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang ( ms, Darjah Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang Yang Amat Gemilang), also translated as The Most Exalted Order of Famous Valour, is an order of Brunei. It was established on 1 August 1968 ...

First Class (DPKT) – Dato Paduka Seri (15 July 2010) * Sultan's Silver Jubilee Medal (1992)