Admiral Robert Hranj

In 1989 he was given command of the missile patrol craft of the Končar class. 

In 1991 he joined the Croatian Navy, and in September 1991 was given command of the Šibenik Fast Attack Craft. 

From 1994 to 1998 he served as a Croatian Defense Attaché to the USA. 

In 1999 he was appointed the Chief of Section for Bilateral Cooperation in the International Military Cooperation Directorate of the Ministry of Defense. 

From 2001 to 2003, he was the Head of the NATO/PfP Office at the MoD. 

In 2004 he graduated from the Naval War College, Newport (USA). 

After his graduation he assumed the position of the commander of the Croatian Navy Training and Education Command “Petar Krešimir IV” and remained on this duty until 2006, when he was appointed as the Chief of NATO/PfP Division in the Defense Policy Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia. 

From 2009 to 2012, he was the Deputy Military Representative to NATO in the Croatian Military Mission to NATO and the EU in Brussels. Upon returning from Brussels he took over the position of the Chief of the Croatian Navy and remained on this position until 2015, when he assumed the duty of the Director of the General Staff. 

On March 1st  2020 Admiral Hranj was appointed as the Croatian Chief of Defense.

Admiral Hranj joined Croatian Armed Forces at the very beginning, in September 1991 and participated in Croatian Homeland war. He was promoted to Captain of the Navy in 2000, to Rear Admiral (LH) in 2011, to Rear Admiral (UH) in 2014, to Vice Admiral in 2018 and to Admiral in 2020.

Admiral Hranj is the bearer of several decorations of the Republic of Croatia: Homeland War Memorial Medal, Homeland Gratitude Memorial for 5 and 10 years of meritorious service, Order of Croatian Three-Strand, Order of Croatian Trefoil, Order of Duke Trpimir with Neck Ribbon and Morning Star as well as the US decoration Legion of Merit.

He is married and father of two daughters.