Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu

Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu (born 1934) is a Turkish general, who became the 23rd Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces on August 28, 1998 for a four-year term. He also served as Chief of the Turkish General Staff and was succeeded by General Hilmi Özkök.

Born in Bozüyük, Bilecik, in December 1934, he completed his secondary schooling at the Işıklar Military High School in Bursa. He graduated from the Army Academy in 1955 as an artillery officer.

Upon commissioning, Kıvrıkoğlu underwent his officer's basic training at the Artillery Branch School in 1957. He spent the next eight years in a variety of artillery units as platoon and battery commander positions.

Following his staff officer education at the Army War College in 1965-1967, Kıvrıkoğlu was posted to the 9th Infantry Division in Sarıkamış, Kars as a staff officer where he served until 1970.

After graduating from the Armed Forces College in 1970, he served as planning officer at Operations Division of the Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH), Naples, Italy. Later, he served as instructor at the Army War College in 1972-1973, and as section chief at the Turkish General Staff and branch chief at the Turkish Land Forces Command. Kıvrıkoğlu commanded the Cadet Regiment of the Army Academy in Ankara from 1978 to 1980.

After graduating from the NATO Defence College in Rome, Italy, he was promoted to Brigadier General in 1980 and assigned to SHAPE in Mons, Belgium where he served as the Chief of Operations Center from 1980 to 1983. Upon returning to Turkey, he assumed the Command of the 3rd and 11th Brigades between 1983 and 1984 respectively.

In 1984, Kıvrıkoğlu was promoted to Major General and assigned to NATO Allied Land Forces Southeastern Europe (LANDSOUTHEAST) in İzmir where he served as Chief of Staff. Later, he commanded the 9th Infantry Division in Sarıkamış from 1986 to 1988.

In 1988, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and became assistant Chief of Staff, Personnel, at the Turkish General Staff. From 1990-1993, he commanded the 5th Corps and then served as Undersecretary of Ministry of National Defence.

In 1993, Kıvrıkoğlu was promoted to full General. He, then, assumed the Command of NATO LANDSOUTHEAST where he served until 1996, and later, he commanded the 1st Turkish Army in Istanbul until 1997.

Prior to becoming Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces, he served as Commander of the Land Forces in 1997-1998.

Awards

Decorations

*(Turkish) State Medal of Honor
*Distinguished Service Medal of the Turkish Armed Forces
*Pakistan Order of Distinction Medal
*Order of the Star of Romania - The Rank of Grand Cross
*Class One Commander's Cross of Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
*Order of National Security Merit, Tongil Medal of Korea
*Friendship Medal of Kazakhstan Republic
*Azerbaijan's Flag Medal
*Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Honor.

Badges

*Army Academy Graduation Badge
*Post Graduate Badge
*Training and Educational Success Badge
*Operational Success Badge
*Administration and Logistics Service Badge
*NATO Service Badge
*Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces Identification Badge.

References

* [http://www.worldwhoswho.com/views/entry.html?id=kiv-dc-300702-2017 Kivrikoglu, Gen. Huseyin] , "International Who's Who". accessed September 4, 2006.