General Valdemaras Rupšys

Chief of Defence – Lithuania
2019

  • Last updated: 25 Aug. 2023 15:42

General Valdemaras Rupšys was born on 2 May 1967 in Šiauliai district municipality. He started his military carrier in Lithuanian National Defence System on 1 November 1990. In 1992 he was assigned to the Field Infantry Brigade stationed in Šiauliai as a platoon leader, later on, as a company commander. In 1996 V. Rupšys was promoted and assigned as the Deputy Commander-Chief of staff of the Duke Vaidotas Mechanized Infantry Battalion, later as the Chief of the Operations section of the Battalion Headquarters (S3).

In 2001 major V. Rupšys served as a Deputy Commander-Chief of Staff of the Grand Duke Kęstutis Mechanized Infantry Battalion, and soon he was promoted to the Commander of the same battalion where he served until 2005. The Grand Duke Kęstutis Mechanized Infantry Battalion was part of Motorized Infantry Brigade "Žemaitija".

In 2006 Lieutenant Colonel V. Rupšys was assigned to The General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. In 2008 he started service at the Department of Personnel and Social Security of the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania.

In 2011 V. Rupšys was promoted to the rank of colonel and assumed the command of the Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf".

On 1 August 2013 he started service as the Director of the Department of Personnel of the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania. After a year, on 1 September 2014 he assumed duties of the Military Assistant to the Chief of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania.

In 2016 Colonel V. Rupšys assumed the command of the Lithuanian Land Forces and was promoted to Brigadier General and later to Major General in 2018. On the 18 of November 2019 he was promoted to Lieutenant General and on the 10 of July of 2023 – to General.

Since 24 July 2019 Gen. V. Rupšys is The Chief of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania.

Valdemaras Rupšys graduated from The General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania, Baltic Defence College (Estonia) and U.S. Army War College. During long years of service General received The Medal of January 13, The Medal of the Founding Volunteers of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, National Defence System sign of honour "For merits to National Defence", Lithuanian Armed Forces Medal for Distinguished Service, Lithuanian Armed Forces Medal of Merit, other awards, acknowledgments, nominal gifts.

V. Rupšys is married and has two children.

He enjoys historical documentary, military history and cynology.