Riho Terras
| Riho Terras | |
|---|---|
 Lieutenant General Riho Terras | |
| Born |
17 April 1967 Kohtla-Järve, Estonia |
| Allegiance |
 Estonia |
| Service/branch |
 Estonian Defence Forces |
| Years of service | 1991-present |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant general |
| Commands held |
Commander-in-Chief |
| Awards |
 Gold Cross of the Honour of the Bundeswehr |
Riho Terras (born 17 April 1967) is an Estonian Army general who currently serves Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces. Terras briefly served as the Chief of the General Staff in 2011, until he was appointed Commander-in-Chief on 5 December 2011. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 2015.[1]
Military career
His military education includes studies in the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom, the Joint Command and General Staff Course in the Baltic Defence College, the European Security. Policy Course in the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, a Battalion Commander's Course in Switzerland, a Company Commander's course in Germany, a Company Commander's course in Sweden and the Officer's Basic course in Estonia. Terras's civilian education includes history studies in the University of Tartu, and a master's degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Bundeswehr.[1]
After graduating from the Basic Officer's Course in Estonia, Terras served as a Company Commander and as a Battalion Second in Command of the Kalev Single Infantry Battalion from 1992 to 1993. Between 1993 and 1994 Terras served as the commander of the Põhja Single Infantry Company. After graduating from the Bundeswehr University (Germany) he served as the commander of the Guard Battalion from 1998 to 2000. Terras was appointed the Chief of Staff of the Defence League Headquarters in 2000. From 2001 to 2004 he served as the Estonian Defence Attaché in Germany and Poland. Between 2005 and 2008 Terras served as the Chief of the Analysis and Planning Department and as Chief of the Planning Section, Analysis and Planning Department in the Estonian Defence Forces Headquarters. In 2007, Terras served in the NATO Training Mission - Iraq as Deputy Chief of Staff. Riho Terras was confirmed on December 2008 as Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defence. Before taking up the position of the Permanent Secretary, he was Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in the Estonian Defence Forces. Terras served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Estonian Defence forces from January 2011 to March 2011 and then continued his service as the Chief of Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces. Terras was appointed the Chief of Defence from December 5, 2011.[1]
Education
- 1989-1993, University of Tartu, History studies, Tartu, Estonia
- 1991-1992, Officer's Basic course, Tallinn, Estonia
- 1993, Company Commander's course, Sweden
- 1996, Company Commander's course, Germany
- 1994-1998, University of Bundeswehr, master's degree in Political Science and Sociology, Munich, Germany
- 1999, Battalion Commander's Course, Switzerland
- 2000, Estonian National Defence Course, Tartu, Estonia
- 2000, Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Policy Course, Geneva, Switzerland
- 2005, Baltic Defence College, Joint Command and General Staff Course, Tartu, Estonia
- 2010, Royal College of Defence Studies, London, United Kingdom
Effective dates of promotion
| Insignia | Rank | Date |
|---|---|---|
 | Second Lieutenant | February 1992 |
 | First Lieutenant | 23 November 1993[2] |
 | Captain | 20 June 1996[3] |
 | Major | 18 February 2000[4] |
 | Lieutenant Colonel | 20 June 2005[5] |
 | Colonel | 1 December 2008[6] |
 | Brigadier General | 16 June 2011[7] |
 | Major General | 18 February 2013[8] |
| Lieutenant General | 5 February 2015[9] |
Assignment History
| From | To | Assignments |
|---|---|---|
| March 1992 | November 1992 | Company Commander, Kalev Infantry Battalion, Estonian Land Forces, Estonia Defence Forces |
| November 1992 | November 1993 | Battalion Second in Command, Kalev Infantry Battalion, Estonian Land Forces, Estonia Defence Forces |
| December 1993 | January 1994 | Commander, Põhja Single Infantry Company, Estonian Land Forces, Estonia Defence Forces |
| May 1998 | January 2000 | Commander, Guard Battalion (Estonia), Estonian Land Forces, Estonia Defence Forces |
| January 2000 | December 2000 | Chief of Staff, Estonian Defence League |
| December 2000 | July 2004 | Estonian Defence Attaché in Germany and Poland |
| August 2005 | January 2006 | Chief of the Planning Section, Analysis and Planning Department, General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Estonia Defence Forces |
| January 2006 | January 2007 | Chief of the Analysis and Planning Department, General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Estonia Defence Forces |
| February 2007 | September 2007 | Deputy Chief of Staff, NATO Training Mission – Iraq |
| September 2007 | February 2008 | Chief of the Analysis and Planning Department, General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Estonia Defence Forces |
| February 2008 | November 2008 | Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Estonia Defence Forces |
| December 2008 | December 2010 | Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence (Estonia) |
| January 2011 | February 2011 | Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Estonia Defence Forces |
| 18 February 2011 | 4 December 2011 | Chief of Staff, General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, Estonia Defence Forces |
| 5 December 2011 | Commander-in-Chief, Estonia Defence Forces |
Awards, decorations, and recognition
Awards and decorations
| Estonian Awards and decorations | ||
 | 4th Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle | 23 February 2005[10] |
.png){kind=small} | White Cross of the Estonian Defence League (III class) | |
 | Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence | |
 | Distinguished Service Decoration of the EDF | 22 February 1999 |
 | Navy decoration " Belief and the Will " Class III " Bronze Anchor " | |
 | Distinguished Service Decoration of the Estonian Defence League | |
 | Estonian Defence Forces General Staff Cross of Merit | |
 | MoD Medal of Participants in International Military Operations | |
 | Merit Medal of the Defence League III Class | |
 | Memorial Medal "10 Years of the Re-Established Defence Forces" | |
 | Victory Fire Carrier Medal | |
.png){kind=small} | Distinguished Service Decoration of the Information Board (II class) | |
.png){kind=small} | The Baltic Defence College Medal of Merit (gold) | |
 | Special Service Cross of Estonian Defence League School | |
.png){kind=small} | Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers’ Assembly (silver) | 12 June 2001[11] |
| Foreign Awards | ||
 | Commander with Star of the Norwegian Order of Merit | 10 September 2015 (Norway)[12] |
 | Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland | 13 May 2014 (Finland)[13] |
 | Commandery of the Order of Merit of the People's Republic of Poland | 18 March 2014 (Poland)[14] |
 | Officier of the National Order of the Legion of Honour | 4 September 2013 (France)[15] |
 | Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany | 9 July 2013 (Germany)[16] |
.png){kind=small} | 1st Class of the Order of Viesturs | 5 June 2012 (Latvia)[17] |
| | Gold Cross of Honour of the Bundeswehr | 20 April 2011 (Germany)[18] |
 | NATO Medal for the NATO Training Mission in Iraq | |
 | Merit Medal of the Finnish Reserve Officers' Federation | |
 | OSMTH Grand Priory of Scandinavia Pro Merito medal | |
Personal
In addition to the Estonian language Terras is fluent in English, German and Russian. He is married with two sons. His hobbies include opera, medieval history and hunting.
References
- 1 2 3 Official Biography, www.mil.ee
- ↑ "18. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". Office of the President. November 18, 1993. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ↑ "74. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". Office of the President. June 20, 1996. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ↑ "89. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". Office of the President. February 18, 2000. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ↑ "Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine 20.06.2005". Riigi Teataja. June 20, 2005. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ↑ "76. R. Terrasele sõjaväelise auastme andmine". Office of the President. December 1, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ↑ "Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". Riigi Teataja. June 16, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ↑ "28. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". Office of the President. February 18, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ↑ "79. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". Office of the President. February 5, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ↑ "4th Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle". Office of the President. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ↑ "EROK teeneteristi kavalerid". Eesti Reservohvitseride Kogu. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ↑ "Grand Cross of the Norwegian Order of Merit". Office of the President. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland". Office of the President. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Commandery of the Order of Merit of the People's Republic of Poland". Office of the President. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Sandor Liive ja Riho Terras Auleegioni kavaleriks". Õhtuleht. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany". Office of the President. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ↑ "1st Class of the Order of Viesturs". Office of the President. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ↑ "FOTOD: Kolonel Riho Terrasele anti üle Saksamaa kõrgeim sõjaväeline autasu". Delfi. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
External links
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| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Neeme Väli |
Chief of the General Staff 2011 |
Succeeded by Peeter Hoppe |
| Preceded by Ants Laaneots |
Commander-in-Chief 2011– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |