Lieutenant General Kemal Turan
Military Representative – Türkiye
2024

Lieutenant General TURAN was born in İstanbul, Türkiye in 1970. He graduated from Maltepe Military High School in 1988 and was selected to attend the United States Air Force Academy as an exchange cadet. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1992 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and Physics.
After earning his pilot wings in 1994, in early part of his career he served in F-16 squadrons specializing in air defense and LANTIRN roles. Between 2001 and 2004, he was assigned to NATO E- 3A Component in Geilenkirchen/Germany as aircraft commander on AWACS aircraft. During his assignment in Germany, he completed two Master’s Degrees from Oklahoma University in International Relations and Human Relations.
As part of his professional military education, he graduated from Turkish Air Force Command and Staff College, as well as Joint War College. As a junior staff officer, he worked at Operations Plan Division at Regional Air Command and at Wing Operations Office of 8th Main Jet Base in Diyarbakir. As part of his command assignment, he served as Commanding Officer of 182nd Fighter Squadron in Diyarbakır and Operations Group Commander at İncirlik Air Base/Adana.
Among other commitments, he served two years as Air Mishap Investigator in Safety Division of Turkish Air Force Headquarters and one year as Branch Chief in Military Training Cooperation Division at Turkish General Staff Headquarters in Ankara. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 2016 and served five years as Base Commander of 9th Main Jet Base located in Balıkesir, specializing in F-16 pilot transition training and NATO DCA operations.
In 2021 he was assigned as Deputy Commander of Air Combat Command & Commander Combined Air Operation Centers and held that post until August 2023, preparing Turkish JFAC for NATO certification. Next, he served as Chief of Operations at Turkish Air Force Headquarters for one year and as of 20 August 2024 he assumed the position of Turkish Military Representative to NATO.
Lieutenant General TURAN is a command pilot with more than 4300 flying hours in F-16, E-3 AWACS and KC-135 Tankers. He is decorated with NATO medals for Operation Allied Force, Operation Unified Protector and Operation Eagle Assist.