Kesänen, Jaro Tapani

Brigadier General

Position

Rector of the National Defence University

Date and place of birth

22.8.1973 Helsinki

Family

Spouse Maria Kesänen
Two children

Career

  • Matriculation Examination, Nikkarin Lukio Upper Secondary School, 1992
  • Naval Academy, 1993–97
  • Instructor, , The Finnish Navy, 1997–98
  • The Finnish Navy EOD Diver Course, 1998
  • Deputy Leader, The Finnish Navy Diver Course, 1998–2001
  • Staff Officer, Utti Jaeger Regiment, 2001–05
  • Captain’s Career Course, The United States of America, 2003
  • Company Commander, Helicopter Battalion, 2006–07
  • Battalion Executive Officer, Helicopter Battalion, 2008–09
  • Chief of flight training, Army Aviation, Army Command, 2009–12
  • Senior Staff Officer Course, 2010–11
  • General Staff Officer Course, 2012–13
  • Battalion Commander, Utti Jaeger Regiment, 2013–16
  • Commander, Helicopter Detachment (EUBG), Utti Jaeger Regiment, 2015
  • Commander, Helicopter Detachment (NRF), Utti Jaeger Regiment, 2016
  • Chief of Army Aviation, Army Command, 2016–17
  • Commander, Utti Jaeger Regiment, 2017–19
  • Master of Science in Government Information Leadership, The United States of America, 2019–20
  • Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, J5, Defence Command Finland, 2020–23
  • Special Assistant, Office of the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, NATO Headquarters, Belgium, 2023–25
  • Rector of the National Defence University 1.12.2025

Promotions

  • Lieutenant 1995
  • First Lieutenant 1997
  • Captain 2002
  • Major 2009
  • Lieutenant Colonel 2014
  • Colonel 2017
  • Brigadier General 2025

Decorations

  • Cross of Liberty, Second Class with Swords, of the Order of the Cross of Liberty
  • Knight, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (FWR K)
  • Medal for Military Merits
  • Cross of Merit of the Finnish Navy