Lieutenant General Themistoklis Bourolias

Lieutenant General Themistoklis Bourolias is the Chief of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff (HAFGS).

As Chief, he is responsible for the organization, training and equipping of all military and civilian personnel of the Hellenic Air Force, serving in Greece and abroad. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Council, the General and other service Chiefs function as military advisors to the Minister of National Defence. He assumed his duties on January 27th, 2022.

He was born in Helioupoli, Attica.

Education

He joined the Hellenic Air Force Academy in 1980 and graduated in 1984 as a 2nd Lieutenant.

He graduated from:

• Supreme Joint War College
• Squadron Officers School, USAF Air University (USA)
• Intelligence Officers School
• Instructors School
• Tactical Weapons School
• Water Survival School
• ASE Survive to Operate Evaluators Course (NSO, GER)
• Flying Supervisors Course (UK)
• Joint Personnel Recovery Course (PRETC ΜΤΤ, USA)
• JFAC Commanders Course (France)

He speaks English

Assignments

• January 2022: Chief of the HAF General Staff
• January 2019 – January 2022: Chief of the Hellenic Tactical Air Force (HTAF)
• January 2017 – January 2019: Commander of the Hellenic Air Force Support Command
• March 2016 – January 2017: Director of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (HNDGS) Personnel, Training and Organization (B) Branch
• May 2015 – March 2016: Director of HNDGS Defence Policy Directorate
• April 2013 – May 2015: Deputy Commander of Combined Air Operations Center –Torrejon (CAOC TJ)
• August 2012 – April 2013: Commander of 111 Combat Wing (CW)
• July 2010 – August 2012: Deputy Commander of 115CW
• November 2007 – June 2010: GRC Liaison Officer to US Joint Forces Command/Concept Development and Experimentation (USJFCOM/J9, VA, USA)
• July 2006 – November 2007: Operations-Training Director in 133CG
• September 2005 – July 2006: Supreme Joint War College
• July 2004 – September 2005: Commander of 115CW/340 Squadron
• February 2003 – June 2004: Operations Officer of 115CW/340 Squadron
• January 2002 – February 2003: Section Head at 111CW/ Operations – Training Director
• May 2001 – December 2001: Trainee at 111CW/Operational Conversion Unit
• July 1998 – May 2001: Staff Officer at HAFGS Military Personnel Directorate (B1)
• August 1996 – July 1998: Head of 115CW Standardization – Evaluation Office
• December 1984 – August 1996: Pilot at 115CW/345 Squadron
• June 1984 – December 1984: Trainee at 115CW/Operational Conversion

Flight Experience

He has more than 5000 flight hours.
He has flown with T-41D, T-37B/C, T-2E, A/TA-7H, F16C/D Block 50 and 52+ aircraft and EMB-135.

Promotions

• 2nd Lieutenant: 18/05/1984
• 1st Lieutenant: 11/06/1987
• Captain: 30/06/1991
• Major: 04/06/1996
• Lieutenant Colonel: 20/04/2001
• Colonel: 24/03/2008
• Brigadier General: 14/03/2013
• Major General: 02/03/2016
• Lieutenant General: 29/01/2019

Medals – Decorations

• Commander of the Order of Honor
• Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix
• Medal of Military Merit 1st Class
• Commendation Medal Cross of Merit and Honor 1st Class
• Commendation Medal Chief of General Staff
• Commendation Medal Merit and Honor
• Air Force Formation Command Medal 1st Class
• Air Force Meritorious Command Medal 1st Class
• Staff Officer Service Commendation Medal 2nd Class
• Joint Service Commendation (USA)
• Gran Gruz del Merito Aeronautico con Distintivo Blanco (ESP)