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 Finland 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 Finland 2009–2010
Brigade Commander, Karelia Brigade 2011–2014
Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors Course, NATO Defence College 2012
Special Assignment, Defence Command Finland 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