Kodam XVI/Pattimura

As the Development Kotama, Operational Kotama and regional Command, the 16th RMC is entrusted with the following:

1. Carry out the tasks of TNI land dimensions in the region of North Maluku and Maluku.
2. Implement security of the North Maluku and Maluku regions bordering other countries.
3. Carry out the construction and development of the strength of the land force TNI in North Maluku and Maluku.
4. Implement the empowerment of land defense areas according to their role and authority and realize the unity of the People's TNI.
5. Carry out other tasks in accordance with statutory regulations and laws of the Republic.

In the summer of 1950, southern parts of the Maluku Islands, with majority Christian populations, were rebel territory with the proclamation of the so-called Republic of South Maluku (RMS), and its army was mainly composed of demobilized ex-Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) soldiers and other South Moluccan men who remained loyal to the Dutch crown, even during the days of the United States of Indonesia wherein Maluku was one of its constituent states. The Indonesian government, represented by then Minister of Defense Abdul Halim and the Commander of the National Armed Forces, MGen T. B. Simatupang, was very much furious with this act of rebellion, and by late August, President Sukarno was convinced that the time had time for the Army to assert the authority of the by now unitary national government in these islands, which during the National Revolution saw fighting between the regular Dutch forces and their pro-Dutch supporters and pro-republic Christian and Muslim inhabitants. In response, the elements of the then Sulawesi-based 7th Terrtorial Army Command Eastern Indonesia, which had the Maluku islands are part of its area of responsibility, began to draw up plans for a military operations movement called "South Maluku Army Command" with operational commander Colonel Alexander Kawilarang (TA Commander for Eastern Indonesia), which was then handed over to Lieutenant Colonel Slamet Riyadi. The South Maluku Army Command, late in August, was charged with the invasion of the Buru, Seram, Ambon and Lease islands to reclaim the islands from the hands of the RMS government through guerilla operations. After succeeding in its operations movement, the Chief of Staff of the Army on August 30, 1950 ordered the transformation of the South Maluku Army Command into the D Force Command (KOMPAS D ) under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel J.F. Warouw and composed partly of the Christians and Muslims of Maluku who supported the government in Jakarta. That force was the main local formation that helped the Army win the Invasion of Ambon in the early fall of 1950.

The D Force Command on July 5, 1952 was later transformed into the 25th Infantry Regiment, 7th TA under the leadership of its first regimental commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sukowati.

A Decree of the Chief of Staff of the Army May 27, 1957 established the Maluku and West Irian Regional Military Command (KDM-MIB), with the first Commander being Colonel Herman Pieters and on October 24, 1959 the Maluku and West Irian Military Regional Command was changed to the Maluku West Irian Military Region "Pattimura" (MIB "Pattimura"), the honorific recalling the bravery of the local nakesake hero who in 1817 fought valiantly against Dutch administration in the islands for abuses against the people. On May 7, 1960, Major General AH Nasution, Commander of the Armed Forces, handed over the command colour to the commanding officer of the military region, COL Herman Pieters. Later on, it became Kodam XV/Pattimura with the separation of West Papua to form its own military command.

For service to the homeland and loyalty to Pancasila and the Constitution of 1945, as well as instilling the values of patriotism and civil-military community development to the peoples of the Moluccas, Kodam XV / Pattimura was later on awarded by President Suharto with the Presidential Unit Citation (Armed Forces) (Samkarya Nugraha).

Currently named Kodam XV / Pattimura:

• Col. Inf Herman Pieters (June 26, 1957)
• Brigadier General TNI Busjiri (4 January 1961)
• Brigadier General TNI R. Djohari (15 February 1966)
• Brigadier General TNI Poniman (28 August 1968)
• Brigadier General TNI Wing Wirjawan Wirjodiprodjo (March 17, 1970)
• Brigadier General TNI Harun Suwardi (19 January 1974)
• TNI Brigadier General Abdul Rahman Suhodo (March 2, 1976)
• TNI Brigadier General Bagus Sumitro (11 February 1978)
• TNI Brigadier General Sebastian Soekoso (April 24, 1981)
• Brigadier General TNI Hasundungan Simanjuntak (May 17, 1983)

Liquidated in 1985-1999

When activated as Kodam XVI / Pattimura:

• Brigadier General Max M. Tamaela (15 May 1999 - 26 June 2000)
• Brigadier General I Made Yasa (26 June 2000 - 2 July 2001)
• Brigadier General Mustopo (2 July 2001 - 30 May 2002)
• Maj. Gen. Djoko Santoso (May 30, 2002 - March 18, 2003)
• Maj. Gen. Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo (18 March 2003 - 29 December 2003)
• Maj. Gen. Syarifuddin Sumah (29 December 2003 - 21 March 2006)
• Maj. Gen. Sudarmaidy Subandi (21 March 2006 - 2 August 2007)
• Maj. Gen. Rasyid Qurnuen Aquary (2 August 2007 - 7 November 2008)
• Maj. Gen. M Noer Muis (7 November 2008 - January 2010)
• TNI Major General Hatta Syarifuddin (January 2010 - February 2011)
• Maj. Gen. Suharsono (February 2011 - September 2012)
• Maj. Gen. Eko Wiratmoko (September 2012 - May 2014)
• Maj. Gen. Meris Wiryadi (May 2014) - January 2015)
• Maj. Gen. Wiyarto, S. Sos. (January 2015 - 7 August 2015)
• Maj. Gen. Doni Monardo (7 August 2015 - 14 November 2017)
• Maj. Gen. Suko Pranoto (November 14, 2017 - December 20, 2018)
• Maj. Gen. TNI Dr. Marga Taufiq, S.H., M.H. (20 December 2018 - now)

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