General Işık Koşaner

The 27th Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces, General Işık KOŞANER was born in İzmir/Turkey in 1945. He graduated from the Military Academy in 1965 and the Infantry School in 1966.

He served as platoon leader, company commander and instructor in various units of the Turkish Land Forces. He joined Cyprus Peace Operation respectively as a Commando Platoon Leader and Battalion Headquarters Staff Officer. Then he served as a team commander at Special Forces. Having graduated from Army War College in 1978, he was assigned as a Staff Officer at Special Operations Department of Turkish General Staff (TGS).

After graduating from NATO Defense College in 1981, he was assigned as a Staff Officer at Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples/Italy. Then he served as the Director of Logistics Planning and Coordination Branch at 3rd Army Headquarters.

Having graduated from Royal College of Defense Studies in London/England in 1987, he served as the Director of Strategy Branch of Strategy and Force Planning Department at TGS, Commander of the 131st Infantry Regiment and as the Chief of Staff at the Special Forces Command.

In 1992, he was promoted to Brigadier General. He served as the Head of Logistics Planning Department of the Turkish Land Forces and then commanded 1st Commando Brigade. In 1996, he was promoted to Major General and served as the Commander of Military Academy. After his promotion to Lieutenant General in 2000, he served as Undersecretary of Ministry of Defense and Commander of Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus.

As a General, he served as the Commander of Aegean Army between 2004-2005, Deputy Chief of the Turkish General Staff between 2005-2006, Commander of Gendarmerie between 2006-2008 and Commander of the Land Forces between 2008-2010. He was appointed as Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) as of August 30, 2010.

General Işık KOŞANER has been awarded Turkish Armed Forces Distinguished Service Medal, TAF Courage and Self-Sacrifice Medal, TAF Honour Medal, TAF Cyprus Courage and Self-Sacrifice Medal, the Republic of Korea National Security Legion of Merit and the Order of Distinction of Pakistan (Pakistani Nishan-i Imtiaz).

General Işık KOŞANER is married to Nurdan KOŞANER with two children. He speaks English.