An officer in the British Army is to assume command of the Bermuda Regiment when current Commanding Officer Lt Col Brian Gonsalves steps down.Lt Col Mike Foster-Brown will move into the post in May, Governor George Fergusson announced yesterday.The 41-year-old is currently serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.Mr Fergusson added that his “hope and expectation” was for a successor to be found within the Regiment itself in due course.The Royal Gazette understands that the qualified successor for the position had been Major Chris Wheddon, who was killed in a traffic accident on September 9.In the absence of an immediately qualified Bermudian replacement, Lt Col Foster-Brown is said to be tasked with training up the next in line.His appointment to the post is expected to last two to three years. A source described him as “an absolutely cracking candidate” with “a deep knowledge of change management”.Lt Col Foster-Brown’s appointment was made following consultation with the Promotions Board.Mr Fergusson said: “I am delighted that Mike Foster-Brown will be succeeding Brian Gonsalves. He will be taking over a Regiment with high levels of training and commitment, as I saw at the impressive recruits camp last week. Lt Col Foster-Brown has excellent credentials to take over this role.”Added the Governor: “He has experience as adjutant to a territorial battalion of his own regiment, The Rifles. He has also served with distinction in Iraq, where he was mentioned in dispatches for gallantry, and served earlier on, as did several members of the Bermuda Regiment, in Sierra Leone. I look forward to welcoming him here.”Mr Fergusson hailed Lt Col Gonsalves, who has held the post for four years, as a man of “enormous commitment and professionalism”.Useful website: www.bermudaregiment.bm.