Ioannis Giagkos
Encyclopedia
Air Chief Marshal
Ioannis Giagkos is a Greek Air Force
officer and a former Chief of the National Defense General Staff of Greece
.
, Thessaly
. He attended the Greek Air Force Academy
and graduated in 1974 as a pilot officer. His initial assignment was in the 117 Combat Wing stationed at Andravida Air force Base
, as an F-4 Phantom II
aircraft pilot. During his career as a command pilot he served as fighter squadron and tactical fighter wing commander in several units of the Greek Air Force, with more than 4,200 flying hours in a variety of aircraft, 3,000 of which in F-4 and F-16 C/D fighter jets. He is an alumnus of various military schools both in Greece and abroad. Air Chief Marshal Giagkos served as Staff Officer in the plans and policy branch at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
(SHAPE) in Mons
, Belgium
and as Commander of the NATO Combined Air Operations Centre-7, in Larissa
, Greece.
From January 2007 to August 2009 Air Chief Marshal Giagkos held the post of Hellenic Air Force Chief of Staff. During this period the fighter aircraft fleet of the Greek Air Force was increased to 170, as result of the 'Peace Xenia IV' purchase program from Lockheed Martin
of 30 additional F-16 Block 52+ aircraft.
On August 6, 2009, following a decision of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense
(KYSEA), he was nominated for appointment to the rank of Air Chief Marshal and the office of the Chief of National Defense General Staff. In September 2009, during discussions with Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. Admiral James Stavridis, Giagkos outlined the country's positions concerning participation of Greece in NATO peace-keeping missions as well as the present situation of the Aegean dispute
. He held the post until his retirement, on 3 November 2011.
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Ioannis Giagkos is a Greek Air Force
Hellenic Air Force
The Hellenic Air Force, abbreviated to HAF is the air force of Greece. The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid in Greece and around the...
officer and a former Chief of the National Defense General Staff of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Career
Air Chief Marshal Giagkos was born in December 1951 in TrikalaTrikala
Trikala is a city in northwestern Thessaly, Greece. It is the capital of the Trikala peripheral unit, and is located NW of Athens, NW, of Karditsa, E of Ioannina and Metsovo, S of Grevena, SW of Thessaloniki, and W of Larissa...
, Thessaly
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
. He attended the Greek Air Force Academy
Hellenic Air Force Academy
The Hellenic Air Force Academy is a military academy responsible for supplying the Hellenic Air Force with professionally trained pilots, aircraft engineers and air defence inspectors. It was founded in 1919 as the Military Academy of Aviation and renamed in 1967 as the Icarus School in reference...
and graduated in 1974 as a pilot officer. His initial assignment was in the 117 Combat Wing stationed at Andravida Air force Base
Andravida AB
Andravida military airport is a military airport that is 2.5 kilometres away from the city center of Andravida. Construction began in the 1950s to expand the Greek military and military aviation services throughout the state. The cost of building the airport and some facilities were about...
, as an F-4 Phantom II
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
aircraft pilot. During his career as a command pilot he served as fighter squadron and tactical fighter wing commander in several units of the Greek Air Force, with more than 4,200 flying hours in a variety of aircraft, 3,000 of which in F-4 and F-16 C/D fighter jets. He is an alumnus of various military schools both in Greece and abroad. Air Chief Marshal Giagkos served as Staff Officer in the plans and policy branch at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
(SHAPE) in Mons
Mons
Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and as Commander of the NATO Combined Air Operations Centre-7, in Larissa
Larissa
Larissa is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens...
, Greece.
From January 2007 to August 2009 Air Chief Marshal Giagkos held the post of Hellenic Air Force Chief of Staff. During this period the fighter aircraft fleet of the Greek Air Force was increased to 170, as result of the 'Peace Xenia IV' purchase program from Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
of 30 additional F-16 Block 52+ aircraft.
On August 6, 2009, following a decision of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense
Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense
The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence , usually known by its acronym KYSEA , is the supreme decision-making body on issues of foreign policy and national defence of Greece. It was established in 1986 by initiative of then-Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou...
(KYSEA), he was nominated for appointment to the rank of Air Chief Marshal and the office of the Chief of National Defense General Staff. In September 2009, during discussions with Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. Admiral James Stavridis, Giagkos outlined the country's positions concerning participation of Greece in NATO peace-keeping missions as well as the present situation of the Aegean dispute
Aegean dispute
The Aegean dispute is a set of interrelated controversial issues between Greece and Turkey over sovereignty and related rights in the area of the Aegean Sea. This set of conflicts has had a large effect on Greek-Turkish relations since the 1970s. It has twice led to crises coming close to the...
. He held the post until his retirement, on 3 November 2011.
Military awards
- Medal of Military Merit 1st Class
- Outstanding Command Commendation Medal 1st Class.
- Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix.
- Grand Commander of the Order of Honour.
- Staff Officer Commendation Medal 1st Class.
- Formation – Major Unit Command Commendation Medal 1st Class.
- General Staff Command Commendation Medal.
- Star of Merit and Honour Commendation Medal.