Franciszek Gągor
Encyclopedia
Franciszek Gągor was a Polish general, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces between 2006 and 2010.
He died in the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash
near Smolensk
with the President of Poland Lech Kaczyński
.
near Nowy Sącz
.
He attended the Mechanized Infantry Officer College at Wrocław in 1973. He also held qualifications at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
(1983 - Master of Arts degree in English philology); the National Defence University in Warsaw (1998 - doctorate in military science); the NATO Defense College (2001), and the National Defense University (2002) in Washington DC.
missions.
In 1978 he was posted to the Mechanized Infantry Officer College in Wrocław, where he
lectured on preparations and training of Polish contingents designated for
peacekeeping operations until 1988 and, during that time, took an active part in
UNDOF operations (1980–1981 and 1985–1986) as an operations officer.
Between 1988 and 1990 General Gągor served at UNDOF HQ as Deputy Chief of Logistics.
In 1991 he was an executive officer/second-in-command at the Polish Military Contingent for Desert Storm Operation. He later became the Deputy Sector Commander of UN Iraq-Kuwait Observation mission UNIKOM between 1991-1992.
In 1993, as a Colonel, he became the Chief of Polish Armed Forces Peacekeeping Division of the Polish Armed Forces.
He was a key member of the Polish Armed Forces preparations team for Polish accession to NATO, taking care of initial and first rounds of NATO Defence Planning for Poland.
He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
in 1997.
On 27 February 2006, Gagor was made Chief of General Staff of the Polish
Armed Forces upon appointment by the President of Poland. He was promoted to General on May the 3rd 2006.
Along with Krzysztof Paszkowski, he wrote the book: “Defense Doctrine of the Polish Republic for Peacekeeping Operations.”
Gen. Gągor is an author of numerous articles and publications on military affairs and co-operation, defence transformation and armed forces modernization.
He died in the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash
2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash
The 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash occurred on 10 April 2010, when a Tupolev Tu-154M aircraft of the Polish Air Force crashed near the city of Smolensk, Russia, killing all 96 people on board...
near Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
with the President of Poland Lech Kaczyński
Lech Kaczynski
Lech Aleksander Kaczyński was Polish lawyer and politician who served as the President of Poland from 2005 until 2010 and as Mayor of Warsaw from 2002 until 22 December 2005. Before he became a president, he was also a member of the party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość...
.
Life and Education
Gągor was born in 1951 in KoniuszowaKoniuszowa
Koniuszowa is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Korzenna, within Nowy Sącz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Korzenna, north-east of Nowy Sącz, and south-east of the regional capital Kraków.-References:...
near Nowy Sącz
Nowy Sacz
Nowy Sącz is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. It is the district capital of Nowy Sącz County, but is not included within the powiat.-Names:...
.
He attended the Mechanized Infantry Officer College at Wrocław in 1973. He also held qualifications at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
(1983 - Master of Arts degree in English philology); the National Defence University in Warsaw (1998 - doctorate in military science); the NATO Defense College (2001), and the National Defense University (2002) in Washington DC.
Military Service
He served in the 2nd Tank Regiment in the 1973. Afterwards, he became an operations and executive officer responsible for planning and operational activities in United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
missions.
In 1978 he was posted to the Mechanized Infantry Officer College in Wrocław, where he
lectured on preparations and training of Polish contingents designated for
peacekeeping operations until 1988 and, during that time, took an active part in
UNDOF operations (1980–1981 and 1985–1986) as an operations officer.
Between 1988 and 1990 General Gągor served at UNDOF HQ as Deputy Chief of Logistics.
In 1991 he was an executive officer/second-in-command at the Polish Military Contingent for Desert Storm Operation. He later became the Deputy Sector Commander of UN Iraq-Kuwait Observation mission UNIKOM between 1991-1992.
In 1993, as a Colonel, he became the Chief of Polish Armed Forces Peacekeeping Division of the Polish Armed Forces.
He was a key member of the Polish Armed Forces preparations team for Polish accession to NATO, taking care of initial and first rounds of NATO Defence Planning for Poland.
He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in 1997.
On 27 February 2006, Gagor was made Chief of General Staff of the Polish
Armed Forces upon appointment by the President of Poland. He was promoted to General on May the 3rd 2006.
Along with Krzysztof Paszkowski, he wrote the book: “Defense Doctrine of the Polish Republic for Peacekeeping Operations.”
Gen. Gągor is an author of numerous articles and publications on military affairs and co-operation, defence transformation and armed forces modernization.
Personal life
He was fluent in English, and communicated in French and Russian. He had an interest in history, English literature, skiing, tennis, volleyball and jogging. He was married to Lucyna and has two children, Katarzyna and Michał.Medals and Decorations
- Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2010, posthumously)
- Officer's Cross (2005)
- Knight's Cross (1998)
- Gold Cross of Merit
- Gold Medal in the Service of the Armed Forces of the HomelandMedal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the FatherlandThe Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland is a Polish military decoration, awarded for long service and excellent work in the army. The medal was first established on 26 May 1951, although the detailed rules and grades were revised 1991 and 1995...
- Gold Medal of Merit for National DefenceMedal of Merit for National DefenceThe Medal of Merit for National Defence is a decoration of the Ministry of National Defence of Poland. Established 21 April 1966 and revised in 1991, the medal recognizes meritorious service which strengthens the military of the Republic of Poland. Members of the Polish military and civilian...
- Medal Pro Memoria
- Commander of the Legion of Honour (France, 17 December 2008, France)
- Commander of the Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(USA, 22 May 2008) - Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Portugal) (1 September 2008)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Honorary Badge of Premysl Otakar II, King of Iron and Gold (Čestný badges Přemysl Otakar II., Král železného a zlatého, 1 March 2007, Czech Republic)
- Meritorious Service Cross - Military Division (13 April 2011, Canada, posthumously)
- Medal of the UN mission in UNEF II
- UN Medal UNDOF mission
- Medal UN mission evasion
- Parachutist badge
Links
- Biography from official website
- NATO Biographies Jan. 08, 2008
- NATO Biographies May 05, 2010