General  Janne Jaakkola

Position: Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces

General Jaakkola was born in Vehmaa (Finland) in 1967. After conscription service he entered the Military Academy in 1987 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1990. His later military education includes completion of the Infantry Captain Course (1993), the Staff Officer Course (1997-1998), the General Staff Officer Course in Norway (Forsvarets Stabsskole 2000-2001), the Finnish National Defence Course (2006) and the Senior Command Course (2007).

After having graduated from the Military Academy, he served in Airborne Ranger School and Utti Jaeger Regiment 1990-2002 as a platoon leader/instructor, company commander and staff officer. In 2002-2004 he served as senior staff officer in Western Command Headquarters and in Defence Command Intelligence Division. Jaakkola served as the Aide de Camp to the Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces during 2004-2007. After the promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel he served as a Commander of Special Jaeger Battalion and Commander of Special Operations Detachment (EUBG) in Utti Jaeger Regiment 2007-2011.

Jaakkola was assigned as Senior Staff Officer in the Ministry of Defence 2011-2013. He served as Chief of Staff in Pori Brigade 2013-2015.

During the period 2015-2017 Jaakkola was responsible for the strategic planning as the Chief of Branch in the Defence Command Plans and Policy Division.

In 2017 he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and he served as Assistant Chief of Staff Logistics 2018-2020.

In 2021-2022 he served as the Chief of Planning in the Defence Command. He was promoted to the rank of Major General in the 2021.

In 2023 Jaakkola was appointed to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy and in the same year he was promoted to Lieutenant General.

1 April 2024 Janne Jaakkola became the Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces and was promoted to General.

General Jaakkola has served in KFOR 2003 and ISAF 2009.

He speaks English, Swedish and Finnish. Janne Jaakkola is married and has one child. His hobbies include sports.

Major Decorations

Commander, of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
Cross of Liberty, 3rd Class
Knight, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland
Medal for Military Merits
Infantry Cross of Merit, Logistics Cross of Merit