Former Chief of Defence Staff Rocky Meade has been appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary with responsibility for National Strategic Initiatives for Jamaica, effective yesterday (February 13).

The appointment was made by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen on the advice of Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

According to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, in his new role, Meade will advise the prime minister (and Cabinet when necessary) on, as well as co-ordinate, national strategic initiatives and projects across ministries, departments and agencies within government with a view to ensuring their timely and effective implementation. These include existing and new initiatives that will have a positive long-term impact on the country’s development.

Meade has nearly four decades of leadership experience and has led various significant initiatives with impact at the organisational, national, and international levels. These include the Jamaica National Service Corps, the expansion and regionalisation of the JDF, the expansion and improvement of Caribbean regional disaster response capabilities, and the Caribbean Military Academy, which has students from over 30 countries across five continents.

MEADE WILL BE BASED IN THE OPM

He holds a PhD from the University of Amsterdam, a Master of Military Arts & Science degree from the US Army Command and General Staff College, and Master and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of the West Indies. He has also earned several certificates of achievement, including Grand Strategy Design and Implementation, Corporate Governance, and Process Management and Needs Assessment.

Meade will be based in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Previously, the Holness Administration had sought to appoint Meade as Cabinet Secretary, but faced backlash when critics argued he did qualify for the post having not been a civil servant at the time of the intended appointment.

In avoiding a heated debate on the matter, Meade at the time opted not to accept the offer of the post.