Kivinen, Timo Pekka
General
Position
Chief of Defence
Date and place of birth
8th December 1959 in Lappeenranta, Finland
Family
Spouse Maarit Kivinen
Four children
Military education and career
- Military Academy 1979 – 1982
- Instructor, Uusimaa Battalion 1982 – 1985
- US Army Airborne and Ranger Courses, USA 1983
- Instructor, Army Academy, Lappeenranta 1985 – 1986
- Infantry Captain Course 1986 – 1987
- Company Commander, Uusimaa Jaeger Battalion 1987 – 1988
- Staff Officer, Helsinki Military District Headquarters 1988 – 1991
- War College 1991 – 1993
- Assistant Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff, Uusimaa Jaeger Battalion 1993 – 1994
- Senior Staff Officer, Defence Command 1994 – 1997
- United Nation Staff Officer Course, Sweden 1996
- Deputy Commanding Officer, Finnish Jaeger Battalion in SFOR 1997 – 1998
- Finnish Defence Attaché in Austria, Hungary (resident) and Ukraine 1998 – 2001
- Commander, Utti Jaeger Regiment 2001 – 2004
- International Visitors Programme, USA 2003
- Head of Department and Vice President, National Defence University 2004 – 2007
- National Defence Course 2006
- High Command Course 2007
- Royal College of Defence Studies, UK 2008
- Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans and Policy Division, Defence Command 2009 – 2010
- Brigade Commander, Karelia Brigade 2011 – 2014
- Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors Course, NATO Defence College 2012
- Special Assignment, Defence Command 1.7.2014 –
- Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy 2015–2017
- Chief of Defence Command Finland 2017-2019
- Chief of Defence 1.8.2019
Promotions
- Second Lieutenant 1979
- Lieutenant 1982
- Senior Lieutenant 1984
- Captain 1989
- Major 1992
- Lieutenant Colonel 1998
- Colonel 2004
- Brigadier General 2010
- Major General 2014
- Lieutenant General 2016
- General 2019
Decorations
- Cross of Liberty, 1st Class with grand star
- Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland
- Medal for Military Merits