Answer
Ian Khama served as the Commander of the Botswana Defence Force from 1977 to 1998. During this time, he oversaw the expansion and modernization of the force, and played a key role in the country's military operations in the Namibian War of Independence and the Angolan Civil War. In 1998, Khama was elected President of Botswana, and he continued to serve as the Commander of the Defence Force until 2008.