Demo Team T-6

CURRICULUM VITAE

Lieutenant General Antonios Tsantirakis
 

Lieutenant General Antonios Tsantirakis is Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff. He is responsible for the perfect organization, staffing, armament, training, evaluation, preparation for war of the entire military and civil personnel of the Hellenic Air Force. He is member of the Defense Council and of the General Staff Chiefs Council and together with the Chiefs of the other Branches of the Armed Forces he is military council of the Minister of National Defense. He assumed his duties on November 2th 2011.

 

Education

He was born in Crete. He entered the Air Force Academy in 1974 and became Pilot Officer in 1978.

He graduated from:
  • Tactical Weapons School
  • Electronic Warfare School
  • Air-to-Ground Operations School
  • Officers’ Information School
  • Ground Trainers School
  • Air Force War Academy/Juniors
  • Air Force War Academy/Seniors
  • Flight Safety Officers Course, North AFB, California USA

Foreign Languages:  English

 

Assignments

His first assignment was on 111CW/349 Squadron on F-5A/B a/c. In continuance he served on 116CW/336 Squadron on F-104G a/c and on 116CW/335 Squadron on A-7E a/c as Operation Officer and Squadron Commander. At HAFGS he served as Director of the Office of the Chief of Staff/HAFGS and Head of Defense Planning Department (HAFGS/D2).  After that he became Commander of 116CW.  He was assigned to HNDGS/Division of Defense Policy as Head of Department on NATO Issues.He served at HAFGS as Director of International Relations Division and then he was assigned as Commander of HAFSC. Before his assignment as the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff he was the Chief of HTAF and Commander of CAOC 7.

He served as Operation Officer at 1st Squadron of E-3A Component NATO in Germany and as Head of the Support Department at the NATO AIR HEADQUARTERS in Izmir (Deputy Chief of Staff/Support).

 

Flight Responsibilities

He has practiced more than 5000 flight hours.

He has flown following types of a/c:  T-41D, T-37B/C, T-2E, T-33A/B, F-5 A/B, F-104G, A-7E and Boeing 707 (E-3A).

 

Promotions

  • 2nd Lieutenant : 30.06.1978
  • 1st Lieutenant : 30.06.1981
  • Captain : 04.07.1984
  • Major : 17.08.1989
  • Lt. Colonel:  31.08.1993
  • Colonel: 12.05.2000
  • Brig. General: 07.03.2007
  • Maj. General: 03.03.2009
  • Lt. General:   08.03.2011

 

Medals - Decorations

  • Commander’s Breast Star of “Order of Honor”
  • Grand Commander’s Badge of “Order of Phoenix”
  • Medal of Military Merit 1st Class
  • Commendation Medal "Chief of General of Staff"
  • Air Force Formation Command Medal 1st Class
  • Air Force Meritorious Command Medal 1st Class
  • Staff Officer Service Commendation Medal 2nd Class
  • Commendation Medal "Star of Merit and Honor"