Lieutenant General Panagiotis Georgakopoulos

Lieutenant General Panagiotis Georgakopoulos is the Chief of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force (HTAF).

He is responsible for the country’s air defence, exercising command and control throughout the Hellenic National Airspace.

He is also responsible for the organization, training, equipping and maintaining combat-ready forces for rapid employment, while ensuring air defence forces are ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime defence.

He was born in Tripoli.

Education

He joined the Hellenic Air Force Academy in 1985 and graduated in 1989, as a 2nd Lieutenant.

He has graduated from:

• Supreme Joint War College
• Air War College/Junior Officers
• Water Survival School
• Academic Instructor Course

He holds:

• Executive MBA Postgraduate Diploma from the University of Economics and Business – Athens
• Master’s Degree in International Relations and European Studies from the University of Nicosia

He speaks English.

Assignments

• January 2024: Chief of the HTAF
• March 2022 – January 2024: Director of HAFGS Policy and Planning Branch (D)
• April 2021 – March 2022: Director of the HAFGS Military Personnel Directorate (B1)
• July 2020 – April 2021: Commander of 116 Combat Wing (CW)
• September 2017 – July 2020: Defence Attaché at Embassy of Greece in Rome (Italy)
• June 2016 – July 2017: Deputy Commander of 116CW
• September 2015 – June 2016: Section Head of HAFGS Chief’s Executive Office
• August 2013 – September 2015: Director of Operations – Training Directorate at 116CW
• June 2011 – August 2013: Staff Officer at the HAFGS Operations and Planning Directorate (A1/1)
• September 2010 – July 2011: Supreme Joint War College
• August 2009- September 2010: Staff Officer at Hellenic National Defence General Staff Chief’ s Executive Office
• April 2007 – August 2009: Commander of 115CW/343 Squadron
• August 2005 – April 2007: Operations Officer of 1115CW/343 Squadron
• August 2004 – July 2005: Commander of 115CW/340 Squadron
• April 2003 – August 2004: Pilot at 115CW/340 Squadron
• August 2001 – April 2003: Staff Officer at 111CW Standardization – Evaluation Office
• August 2000 – July 2001: Commander of 111CW/347 Squadron
• September 1997 – August 2000: Pilot at 111CW/347 Squadron
• April 1996 – August 1997: Pilot at 111CW/330 Squadron
• July 1995 – March 1996: Trainee at 111CW/Operational Conversion Unit
• June 1991 – July 1995: Pilot at 115CW/340 Squadron
• August 1990 – June 1991: Trainee at 115CW/Operational Conversion Unit
• June 1989 – August 1990: Trainee at 120 Air Training Wing

Flight Experience

He has more than 3500 flight hours.
He has flown with Τ-41D, Τ-37B/C, T-2E, A-7H, F-16 Block 30, 50, 52+ and 52+ Advanced.

Promotions

• 2nd Lieutenant: 05/06/1989
• 1st Lieutenant: 30/06/1992
• Captain: 30/06/1996
• Major: 08/06/2001
• Lieutenant Colonel: 04/06/2007
• Colonel: 04/04/2013
• Brigadier General: 10/03/2020
• Major General: 09/03/2022
• Lieutenant General:13/01/2024

Medals – Decorations

• Grand Commander of the Order of Honor
• Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix
• Medal of Military Merit 1st Class
• Commendation Medal Merit and Honor
• Air Force Meritorious Command Medal 1st Class
• Air Force Formation Command Medal 1st Class
• Staff Officer Service Commendation Medal 2nd Class