Former Brigadier General Carlton Alfred Alfonso was appointed a Senator and Minister of National Security on February 3, 2015.
Brigadier General Alfonso served Trinidad and Tobago as aide-de-camp to former President Noor Hassanali. He is a former commanding officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment and was the first enlisted man to ascend to the position of Chief of Defence Staff, where he served from 1994 to 1999.
Since his retirement, Brigadier General Alfonso has served as security advisor and chief security officer for Petrotrin, thereafter as Chairman of PLIPDECO, followed by Director of the Prime Minister’s residence and Diplomatic Centre and Director-General of the National Security Training Academy.
In 2012, Brigadier General Alfonso was awarded the Medal of Merit, Gold, for community service.