Major General Qemal Shkurti

Major General Qemal SHKURTI was born in 1962, in Gjirokastër, Albania.

After attending the Military Academy Course (1981-1984), in July 1984 he was commissioned as infantry officer and his first assignment was instructor to the Military Academy. He served two years in this position, prior to being assigned to various positions in different infantry units, mostly intelligence assignments, until 1995, time when he was promoted to the rank of major.

In December 1995, following his return to Albania, after six months deployment in a peacekeeping mission (UN Military Observer in Georgia-UNOMIG), he assumed the post of commander of the first Albanian peacekeeping company, serving in this position until January 2000. Participation in peacekeeping operations was a new experience for the Albanian military and being commander of this unit was a challenge, which was successfully accomplished. During this time, he was deployed twice in Sarajevo, BiH, as commander of the Albanian SFOR Contingent.

He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in September 2000, and from that year until 2008, he served in various positions in the Albanian Ministry of Defence and General Staff, such as staff officer in the Albanian-American Military Liaison Team (MLT), chief of MLT Office (2001), chief of Foreign Relations Section in the MOD, Deputy Director of Defence Planning in Albanian MOD/GS (2005) and finally Director of Personnel in the General Staff (2007-2008). He was promoted to Colonel in September 2006.

On 21st July 2008 he was assigned as Albanian Defence Attaché in London, UK, where he served until September 2011.

He was promoted to Brigadier General in August 2012 and, at the same time, he took over command of the Albanian Navy. He served in this position until June 2015, time when he started his current assignment as Albanian MILREP to NATO. In October 2015 he was promoted to the rank of Major General.

Major General Shkurti has attended different curses in the Albanian Defence Academy such as General Staff Corse and Senior Officers Course, as well as different other curses, including Executive Course of the Marshall Centre for Security Studies.

During his career, General Shkurti has been awarded several decorations, and Military Medals, for distinguished work and contribution.

Major General Shkurti speaks English and has good knowledge in Russian and Italian.

He is married to Mrs Flutur Shkurti and they have one son, Idlir.