Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis Takes Command at BCG

After six years at the helm, a new chapter is officially underway for the Belize Coast Guard. This morning at their headquarters in Belize City, leadership was formally handed over in a ceremonial change of command. Captain Gregory Soberanis, who has served as Vice‑Commandant since 2019, is now stepping into the role of Commandant, taking on the responsibility of guiding the force forward. The ceremony drew top government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, the armed services, and proud family and friends. News Five’s Shane Williams was there for the passing of the sword and brings us the highlights.

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

Twenty years ago, the Belize Coast Guard began with just fifty men and women, drawn from the Belize Police Department and the Maritime Wing of the Belize Defense Force, united by one bold vision: to protect Belize’s seas. Under the leadership of retired Brigadier General Cedric Borland, that dream took root. Fast forward to today, the Coast Guard has grown into a world‑class maritime force, expanding in numbers, vessels, responsibilities, and bases across the country. Now entrusted with carrying that legacy forward is Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis. He says the foundation laid by those before him has more than prepared him for the task ahead.

 

Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard

“This has been a moment that I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time, really. Because our career development plan really prepares you, it develops you, trains you to really take command someday. And so really it’s this is a moment in time where the institution and the government of Belize really invests. With our international partners in military officers with the hope that one day at some point you’ll have that continuity of command.”

 

 

 

In 2016, Soberanis attended the prestigious United States Naval War College. He graduated with honors and won the Leadership Award for international students. He also holds a Master’s Degree in International Strategic Studies from the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., experience he says will help guide a bolder vision for the Belize Coast Guard.

 

Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis

“We definitely looked for or we look to greater partnership with key stakeholders. We definitely want to look at maintaining that course of true North. Being committed to our national responsibilities, how we continue to shift the culture in the Coast Guard and how we continue to shape the organization in the Coast Guard to be able to meet these evolving and current threats that we face in the maritime domain. One of the things that. We definitely want to do is to engage our partners more. We believe that greater collaboration, greater cooperation will definitely be able to have us be more effective more efficient, more productive, maritime domain. And it’s engaging not only our domestic partners, but engaging our international partners as well.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño has consistently praised Soberanis’s leadership and professionalism, expressing confidence that he will lead the force toward a promising future.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Mr. Soberanis, he’s quite an impressive gentleman, and I said I was quite impressed when he recited The Lord is My Shepherd with such vigor and such confidence and such emotion. That kind of gives you a little sense on the man. There’s a christian man, a man that believes in God. And I believe that once you have those basic strong principles in you, it allow you to be able to serve the people, to serve the Coast Guard and the sailors and the people of Belize to its best possibilities.”

 

 

Every man and woman that serves relies on the strong support from family, who sacrifice just as much, maybe even more, when duty calls. A proud Darlene Graham recalls knowing early on that her son was meant to do remarkable things.

 

Darlene Graham, Mother of Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis

“I know my son works very hard. He gives all his diligence, everything for Coast Guard. Coast Guard was his life. He was always willing to travel whenever he was asked to travel. And coming back and was awarded this great accomplishment, I feel like I the receive it with him too. He was destined for greatness because I can recall as a young boy were all prepared to go to church and it started to rain and I told my kids, you know what lets get undressed. And he said, ‘No, we will have church right here. So he let us all sat down in the house and he did just like he was like a young pastor that night. And that night you know I pondered in my heart. I said, my son will be a leader one day.”

 

 

His sister, Judy Soberanis, served their Burrell Boom community as a teacher for many years. Traveling from the U.S., she stepped away from her teaching duties to support her big brother, calling it a proud moment not just for their family, but for the whole community.

 

Judy Soberanis, Sister of Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis

“As a village boy… great honour and pleasure to be here.”

 

 

 

Shane Williams for News Five.