Next Chief of Defence Command Finland Appointed

The next commanders of the Finnish Army and Air Force have also been appointed. Many changes will take place within the body of generals.

The current Deputy Chief of Staff Strategy, Lieutenant General Timo Kivinen will assume the post of Chief of Defence Command Finland as of 1 June, when Vice Admiral Kari Takanen transfers to the reserve.
The current Commander of the Finnish Air Force, Major General Kim Jäämeri will assume the post of Deputy Chief of Staff Strategy as of 1 June.
Brigadier General Sampo Eskelinen, currently Assistant Chief of Staff Plans and Policy, will assume the post of Commander of the Finnish Air Force as of 1 June.
The current Commander of the Kainuu Brigade, Brigadier General Vesa Virtanen will assume the post of Assistant Chief of Staff Plans and Policy as of 1 June.
The current Chief of Staff of Army Command Finland, Major General Petri Hulkko will assume the post of Commander of the Finnish Army on 1 August, when the current Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Seppo Toivonen transfers to the reserve.
Brigadier General Markku Myllykangas, the current Assistant Chief of Staff Current Operations, will assume the post of Chief of Staff of Army Command Finland as of 1 August
The current Deputy Chief of Staff of Air Force Command Finland, Colonel Pasi Jokinen will assume the post of Assistant Chief of Staff Current Operations at Defence Command Finland as of 1 August.
Colonel Jari Mikkonen, the current Commander of the Karelia Air Command, will assume the post of  Chief of Staff of Air Force Command Finland as of 1 August.

Lieutenant General Timo Pekka Kivinen will begin as Chief of Defence Command Finland on 1 June 2017. He has held the post of Deputy Chief of Staff Strategy since 2015. Before this Kivinen has held the posts of among others Defence Attaché in Budapest, Commander of the Utti Jaeger Regiment, Deputy Chief of Division at Defence Command Finland and Commander of the Karelia Brigade. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in 2016.

Major General Petri Jussi Mikael Hulkko will assume the post of Commander of the Finnish Army on 1 August 2017. Since January 2017, he has held the post of Chief of Staff of Army Command Finland. Before this, Hulkko has served as among others Deputy Chief of Division of the Eastern Command, Commander of the Utti Jaeger Regiment, Military Advisor at the Ministry of Defence and Chief of Army Operations. He was promoted to the rank of major general in 2016.

Colonel Pasi Pellervo Jokinen will assume the post of Assistant Chief of Staff Current Operations at Defence Command Finland as of 1 August 2017. He has served as Deputy Chief of Staff of Air Force Command Finland since 2015. Prior to this, Jokinen has held among others the appointments of Squadron Commander at the Satakunta Air Command, Chief of Section and Chief of Division at Air Force Command Finland and Commandant of the Air Force Aircraft and Weapon Systems Training School. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in 2012.

Colonel Jari Mikael Mikkonen will assume the post of Chief of Staff Air Force Command Finland on 1 August 2017. He has served as Commander of the Karelia Air Command since 2015. Before this, Mikkonen has served as Squadron Commander at the Karelia Air Command, Deputy Chief of Staff Air Force Command Finland, Senior Staff Officer at Defence Command Finland and Chief of Division at Air Force Command Finland. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in 2011.

Major General Kim Erkki Akseli Jäämeri will assume the post of Deputy Chief of Staff Strategy as of 1 June 2017. He has served as Commander of the Finnish Air Force since 2014. Prior to this, Jäämeri served as among others Military Advisor to the Chairman of the European Union Military Committee in Brussels, Deputy Chief of Division at Defence Command Finland, Chief of the National Defence Courses and Deputy Chief of Staff Air Force Command Finland. He was promoted to the rank of major general in 2014.

Brigadier General Markku Johannes Myllykangas will assume the post of Chief of Staff of Army Command Finland on 1 August 2017. He has held the post of Assistant Chief of Staff Current Operations at Defence Command Finland since 2014. Previously, Myllykangas has served as among others Chief of Staff of the Reserve Officer School, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Eastern Command, Commander of the Artillery Brigade and Chief of Army Plans. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in 2013.

Brigadier General Sampo Ilmari Eskelinen will assume the post of Commander of the Finnish Air Force on 1 June 2017. He has served as Assistant Chief of Staff Plans and Policy at Defence Command Finland since 2016. Earlier, Eskelinen has held the posts of Branch Chief at Air Force Command Finland, Commander of the Satakunta Air Command, Deputy Chief of Staff Air Force Command Finland and Chief of Division at Defence Command Finland. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in 2015.

Brigadier General Vesa Juhani Virtanen will assume the post of Assistant Chief of Staff Plans and Policy at Defence Command Finland as of 1 June 2017. He has served as Commander of the Kainuu Brigade since 2015. Before this, Virtanen served as among others Aide-de-Camp to the Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, Battalion Commander of the Guard Jaeger Regiment, teacher at the National Defence University and Secretary General of the Security Committee. He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in 2016.