Laaksonen, Ari Matti

Brigadier General 

Date and place of birth 

31.12.1970, Helsinki

Family
Married to Sanna Laaksonen, née Korjus
Two children

Career

  • Conscript service, Armoured Brigade 1990 - 1991
  • Several Junior Officer positions, Armoured Brigade 1995 – 1999
  • Company Commaner, Armoured Brigade 1999 – 2003
  • Research Officer, Armoured Brigade 2004 – 2006
  • Staff Officer, Army Command G10 Material 2007 – 2009
  • Military Assistant to the Commander of the Finnish Army, Army Command 2009 – 2011
  • Staff Officer, J5 Plans and Policy, Defence Command 2011 – 2014
  • Commandant of the Armoured School, Armoured Brigade/Army Academy 2014 – 2016
  • Senior Staff Officer, G5 Plans, Army Command 2016 – 2017
  • Commander of the FINCON (UNIFIL, Lebanon) 2017 – 2018
  • Head of the Governance development sector, J5 Plans and Policy, Defence Command 
  • Head of the Strategic Planning Sector, J5 Plans and Policy, Defence Command 2019 – 2023
  • Commander of Kainuu Brigade 1.7.2023-

Education

  • Matriculation examination, Helsingin Yhteislyseon lukio 1989
  • Officer's degree, Military Academy (National Defence University) 1991 – 1995
  • Battalion Commander Course 1998
  • Staff Officer Course 2003 – 2004
  • Mechanised Battalion Commander Course (Sweden) 2005
  • General Staff Officer Course 2006 – 2007
  • Senior Command Course 2014
  • The Global Strategy Programme in international security and strategic leadership, Royal College of Defence Studies (UK) 2021- 2022
  • 240 National Defence Course 2022
  • High Command Course 2023

Promotions

  • 1991 Second Lieutenant 
  • 1993 Lieutenant
  • 1995 First Lieutenant  
  • 2000 Captain 
  • 2005 Major
  • 2012 Lieutenant Colonel
  • 2019 Colonel
  • 2023 Brigadier General

Decorations

  • Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland
  • Knight, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland
  • Medal for Military Merits
  • Infantry Cross of Merit with a clasp
  • UN Medal, UNIFIL Operation, Lebanon

Language

Finnish, English and Swedish

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