Lieutenant General Janne Jaakkola Appointed Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces

On 31 January 2024 the President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö has appointed Lieutenant General Janne Jaakkola as the next Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces as of 1 April 2024 for a term on 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2029. The current Commander of the Defence Forces, General Timo Kivinen, will retire and transfer into the reserve on 31 March 2024.

Lieutenant General Janne Jaakkola (b. 1967) has been the Finnish Defence Forces Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy since 2023. Previously, Lieutenant General Jaakkola has held the following positions among others:

Defence Command Assistant Chief of Staff Plans and Policy, Assistant Chief of Staff Logistics, Battalion Commander and Commander of the Special Operations Detachment (EUBG) in Utti Jaeger Regiment, ADC to the Commander of the of the Finnish Defence Forces in 2004-2007. He has also served in crisis management duties in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

Lieutenant General Jaakkola has studied in a General Staff Officer Course in Norway and graduated as a General Staff Officer from the Finnish National Defence University in 2001. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in 2023.

– The posting of the Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces is an honour and a show of trust from the state leadership. The responsibility of the position is highlighted by the challenging operating environment we face today. Right now, however, I will still focus on carrying out my current duties. We will deal with the questions regarding my tenure as the Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces when the time comes, states Lieutenant General Jaakkola.

Kenraaliluutnantti Jaakkolan Curriculum Vitae