Alkiviadis Stefanis
General Alkiviadis Stefanis (Greek: Αλκιβιάδης Στεφανής) is a Greek army officer and Deputy Minister of National Defence from the 9th of July 2019. He served as Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff from 2017 until 2019.
Alkiviadis Stefanis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 October 1959 Athens |
| Allegiance |  |
| Years of service | 1978–2019 (41 years) |
| Commands held | Deputy Minister for National Defence, Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff Commander of the III Army Corps/NRDC-GR |
Career
Alkiviadis Stefanis was born 7 October 1959 in Athens[1]. Admitted to the Hellenic Military Academy (Evelpidon) in 1978 and graduated in 1982 as Armour Second Lieutenant.
As a junior Officer, he served in Armour Units as Platoon Commander and Medium Tank Company Commander and in the Hellenic Military Academy (Evelpidon) as instructor.
In 1994, he attended the US Army Armored Advanced Course in Fort Knox and then served for two years in the Armour School in Avlonas, Attica, as instructor.
In 1997, he attended the Supreme War College.
From 1998 to 2000, he commanded the 98th National Guard Tank Battalion in Lesvos.
From 2000 to 2002, he served as Army Aide-de-Camp to the President of the Hellenic Republic, a position that provided him with military diplomacy experience. During that time, he completed his MSc in Crisis Response Operations.
The following three years until 2005, he served as Operations Officer at the Hellenic Military Representation to the NATO International Military Staff, Brussels, handling national matters within the framework of the Alliance.
Upon returning to Greece, he was assigned as Director of the Armed Forces Transformation Bureau in the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, where he served until 2007. During this period, he attended and graduated from the National Defence College e-learning course.
In 2007, he was promoted to Colonel and assigned as Chief of Staff to the XXIII Armoured Brigade in Alexandroupolis.
In 2008, he graduated with distinction from the National Defense University (NDU)[2], Washington DC, US, with an MBA in Security Strategies.
In 2009, he was assigned as Deputy Commander to the 50th Mechanised Infantry Brigade in Soufli.
In 2010, he was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned as Director of the Defence Planning and Programming Division of the Hellenic Army General Staff.
In 2011, he was assigned as Commanding General of the ΧΧΙΙΙ Armoured Brigade in Alexandroupolis.
Upon his promotion to Major General in 2013, he was assigned as Director of the D Staff Directorate of the Hellenic Army General Staff, responsible for defence planning, programming and Hellenic Army development, as well as for the training of Army Formation and Unit personnel.
In July 2013, he was selected as Operational Commander for EU exercise MILEX-13.
In 2014, he was assigned as Commanding General of the 95th Higher National Guard Battalions Command in Rhodes.
In 2015, he was assigned as Director of the D Staff Directorate of the Hellenic Army General Staff.
In March 2016, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and assigned as Commanding General of C Army Corps/NRDC-GR in Thessaloniki.
On 16 January 2017, upon decision of the Governmental Council on Foreign Policy and National Defence, he assumed his duties as Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff.
On 25 January 2019, upon decision of the Governmental Council on Foreign Policy and National Defence, he retired from service, having been promoted to full General and bestowed the title of Honorary Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff.
Stefanis was promoted to the rank of full general and retired from service on 1 February 2019.
He speaks English and is keen on lifelong learning and sports.
Decorations, Medals & Commendations
General (ret.) Alkiviadis Stefanis, Honorary Chief of Hellenic Army General Staff, has been awarded the following decorations, medals and commendations:
- Commanders High Cross of the Order of Honour.
- Commanders High Cross of the Order of Phoenix.
- Medal of Military Merit A' Class.
- Chief of General Staff Commendation Medal.
- Star for Valour and Honour.
- Commendation Cross of Merit and Honour A' Class.
- Force Formation Command Medal A' Class.
- Force Meritorious Command Medal A' Class.
- Staff Officer Service Commendation Medal A' Class.
- Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.