Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma’awiah enlisted into the Royal Brunei Armed Forces in January 1986. In October 1986, he graduated from the Initial Officer Training (IOT) at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Cranwell, United Kingdom. After completing his basic flying training, he started his operational flying career at No 1 Sqn, Operations Wing (now known as 11 Sqn, No 1 Wing).
In 1997, he was transferred to No.4 Sqn (now known as 14 Sqn, No 1 Wing) holding the appointment of Flight Commander Operations. In 1999, Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar attended the Qualified Helicopter Instructor (QHI) course, in the United Kingdom.
In July 2000, Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar attended the 4th Advanced Command & Staff Course (ACSC) at the Joint Services Command & Staff College, United Kingdom. On his return to Brunei in August 2001, he held the post of Squadron Commander for No. 4 Sqn before holding the appointment of Staff Officer Grade 2 (SO2) Operations in the Royal Brunei Air Force. In 2006, he was appointed as the Commanding Officer (CO) of Training Wing (now known as No 7 Wing) in the Royal Brunei Air Force.
In 2010, Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril held the appointment as the Defence Adviser of Brunei Darussalam to Malaysia. In 2012, he attended the Australia’s Centre of Defence and Strategic Studies (ADDSS) at the Australian Defence College. Upon completion of this course in December 2012, he was posted to the Directorate of Force Capability Development, holding the post as the Director.
On 18th of December 2014, Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril returned back to his mother unit and became the Deputy Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force. He took command effectively of the Royal Brunei Air Force on the 26th of September 2015, and became the 13th Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force.
By the consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, he was promoted to Brigadier General on 27 May 2016.
On the 15th of July 2016, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam bestowed the Darjah Pahlawan Negara Brunei (P.S.P.N.B) Yang Amat Perkasa Darjah Pertama which carries the title Dato Seri Pahlawan.
By the command of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, on 10th August 2018, he was appointed as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence.
Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar is married to Maria Eliza Carlos Abdullah and is blessed with two children. He an avid golfer and enjoys mountain biking.