Raitasalo, Jyri Juhani

Brigadier General

Position

Brigade Commander, Karelia Brigade

Year and place of birth

1970, Espoo

Family

Married to Hannamari Raitasalo, 3 children

Career

  • Several Junior Officer positions (platoon leader, battery commander etc.) , Helsinki Air Defence Regiment 1995 - 2002
  • Research Officer, National Defence University 2002 - 2005
  • Senior Staff Officer Course, National Defence University 2005 - 2006
  • General Staff Officer Course,  National Defence University 2006 - 2007
  • Strategy teacher, National Defence University 2007 - 2009
  • Staff Officer – strategic planning, Plans and Policy Division, Defence Command Finland 2009 - 2010
  • ADC to the Chief of Defence, Defence Command Finland 2010 - 2013
  • Head Lecturer of Strategy, National Defence University 2013 - 2014
  • Commanding Officer of the Helsinki Air Defence Regiment, Armoured Brigade 2014 - 2015
  • Senior Staff Officer – strategic planning, Ministry of Defence 2016 - 2017
  • Military Professor of War Studies, Defence University 2018 - 2019
  • Military Advisor to the Minister of Defence, Ministry of Defence 2019 - 2021
  • Head of Strategic Planning Sector, Plans and Policy Division, Defence Command Finland 2021 – 2022
  • Commander of the Karelia Brigade 2023 -

Education

  • Matriculation examination, Kaitaa High School 1989
  • Officer's Degree, Military Academy (National Defence University) 1995
  • Doctor of Social Sciences - international politics, University of Helsinki 2006
  • General Staff Officer's Degree, National Defence University 2007
  • National Defence Course, National Defence University 2010
  • Senior Command Course 2014
  • High Command Course 2021

Promotions

  • Second Lieutenant 1991
  • First Lieutenant 1995
  • Captain 2000
  • Major 2007
  • Lieutenant Colonel 2012
  • Colonel 2019
  • Brigadier General 2022

Decorations

  • Order of the White Rose of Finland, Knight First Class
  • Order of the Lion of Finland, Knight First Class
  • Medal for Military Merits

Additional information

  • Docent of Strategy and Security Policy, National Defence University 2010-
  • Called member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences 2014-

Languages

Finnish, Swedish, English, French

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