Commodore (Ret.) Tellis A. Bethel Sr. has spent much of his life serving The Bahamas—at sea, in leadership, and in public service. A former Commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, he now serves in the Ministry of National Security while continuing to write and speak about the history, identity, and security of our region.

As a former naval officer with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, author, and speaker, Commodore Bethel considers it a privilege to have lived in The Bahamas and traveled throughout its chain of more than 700 islands. Those experiences gave him a deep appreciation for the pristine waters of the country he served. They also shaped his belief that the many unnamed waters of The Bahamas deserve names that reflect their history and character.

Commodore Bethel spent decades working in the areas of national security, governance, and public leadership. Over the years he has served in senior command, oversight, and policy roles. Through that experience, he has come to believe that security, peace, and legitimacy must go hand in hand. He understands the role of force in protecting a nation, but he also believes that long-term stability depends on purpose, identity, and institutions that earn the trust of the people they serve.

From 2015 to 2020, Commodore Bethel served as Commander Defence Force of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. He currently serves in the Ministry of National Security as the Standards Inspector of Security Forces within The Bahamas.

Earlier in his career, he spent many years at sea as a young naval officer. During that time he helped guard the nation’s maritime heritage, protect the borders from illegal migration and poaching, and take part in counter-drug smuggling operations during the height of the narcotics trade in the 1980s.

Commodore Bethel also has a deep interest in the history and heritage of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. He believes the story of the islands is closely tied to the wider history of the Americas.

He is a strong supporter of recognizing and celebrating the heritage of the Lucayan people, the first known inhabitants of these islands. Their story, he believes, still echoes quietly through the archipelago.

Through his writing and public speaking, Commodore Bethel often shares insights about the early history of these islands and their place in the wider story of the modern Americas. For that reason, he has become a leading voice encouraging greater recognition of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands as the birthplace of the modern Americas.

Commodore Bethel continues to write and speak about peace, leadership in small states, identity, and the historical foundations of stability in the Americas. His work reflects a simple belief: lasting peace does not happen by chance. It must be built, protected, and sustained.