From the European Union: The Council today appointed General Mikhail Kostarakos as next Chairman of the EU Military Committee.
The Chairman leads the work of the EU Military Committee, the highest military body within the Council of the EU. He is the military adviser to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the primary point of contact for the Commanders of the EU’s military operations and missions.
General Mikhail Kostarakos, currently Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, will take up his duties from 6 November 2015 for a period of three years. He will succeed General Patrick de Rousiers, who has been in the position since 6 November 2012.
From the European Union: General Mikhail Kostarakos was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, in 1956. He joined the Hellenic Military Academy in 1974, he graduated in 1978 and he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in Artillery. He attended all the respective Hellenic Field Artillery and Air Defence Artillery School Courses, the Army War College and the National Defence College. He also attended Air Defence Artillery Courses in the US (Fort Bliss, TX) and
Belgium (Glons).
During his military career he had various National and International Command and Staff assignments including the Commandship of the 96 Superior Command of Reserve Battalions, in Chios island and the XII Mechanized Infantry Division in Alexandroupolis. He was also assigned as MA to the Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff (HAGS), Director of Operations and later as the Director of A’ Branch. He served as JOC Director in KFOR, as DOS and DCOS SPT in NDC-GR HQ and in the International Military Staff of NATO in Brussels (IMS) at Intelligence and Current Ops Divisions, accordingly.
He graduated from the Law School of University of Athens and he acquired a post-graduate on “Diplomatic and Strategic Studies”. He speaks English and French.
He has been awarded with various decorations and medals. Upon his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General on 8 March 2011, was appointed as the Commander of NDC-GR. On 1 November 2011, he was promoted to General and appointed as the Chief of the National Defence General Staff.
He is married and has two daughters.
Image: General Mikhail Kostarakos (photo: NATO)