Lieutenant General Iavor Antonov Mateev

Date and place of birth: 05 Dec 1967, Sofia

MILITARY CAREER

2024 Military representative to NATO and EU
2019 - 2024 Commander, JSOCOM
2015 - 2019 68th Special Operations Brigade Commander
2010 - 2015 Chief of Joint Facilities Department, MOD 
2009 - 2010 Chief of Joint Facilities Office, MOD 
2007 - 2009 Deputy Chief of “SIGINT&EW” Sector at Intelligence Branch,
Land Forces Staff
2006 - 2007 Student at National Defense University – Washington, USA
2006 Chief of SOF Training Sector at SOF Branch – Land Forces Staff
2003 - 2006 Chief of Intelligence Sector - SOF Command
2002 - 2003 Assistant – Chief of SOF Training Branch - SOF Command
2000 - 2001 Assistant – Chief of Operations Branch - SOF Command
1999 - 2000 Senior Assistant –Chief of Intelligence Branch – unit 26790 – Sofia
1998 - 1999 Senior Assistant – Chief of Operations Sector – unit 32010 – Dobroslavtsi
1996 - 1998 Student at Defense and Staff College “G.S.Rakovski
1994 - 1996 Chief of Service “Airborne&Combat Search and Rescue Training” –
AFB Dobroslavtsi
1992 - 1994 SOF Company Commander - unit 26 850 – Gornya banya
1989 - 1992 SOF Task Unit Commander - unit 26 850 – Gornya banya

EDUCATION

2006 - 2007 National Defense University, College of International Security Affairs – Washington DC, USA - master degree of Strategic Security Studies
1996 - 1998 War and Staff College “G.S. Rakovski” - Sofia - master degree of Intelligence
1985 - 1989 Military University “Vasil Levski” - Veliko Tarnovo - bachelor degree
1981 - 1985 High school - Varshetz

QUALIFICATION

1994 Paratrooper – master I class

COURSES

2006 NATO Combined Joint SOF Component Command – NATO School Oberamergau, Germany 
2003 NATO CIMIC – Bosnia and Herzegovina
2002 UN Military Observers - Germany
2001 Interoperability - War and Staff College “G.S. Rakovski” - Sofia
1994 Search and Rescue - Greece

PROMOTIONS

2019 Major General
2015 Brigadier General
2009 Colonel
2003 Lieutenant Colonel
1999 Major
1996 Captain
1992 Senior Lieutenant
1989 Lieutenant

MISSIONS

2003
Action Officer Political Assessment and Liaison Officer to EUPM/SBS and NGOs, Operations Branch, SFOR HQ, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

2002
Action Officer and Liaison Officer to State Border service, CIMIC SFOR HQ, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

MEDALS AND AWARDS

A jubilee medal “75 years since the beginning of the Second World War”
“An Honorary badge of the Ministry of Defense” - first degree
A jubilee medal “100 years since the beginning of the First World War”
A medal of the Bulgarian armed forces, for faithful service under the military flags – first degree.
Two NATO medals for participation in NATO operations in Former Yugoslavia
US Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service
Tangible rewards, moral incentives and honorary diplomas
Ecclesiastical Order "St. Apostle Erm" - 1st degree for Meritorious Service to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Holy Metropolis of Plovdiv

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

English STANAG-6001 3-3-3-3
Russian
Serbo-Croatian

FAMILY
Married with three kids and two granddaughters.