site.btaPresident Appoints Air Force Commander and Awards Senior Officer Ranks

President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Rumen Radev Wednesday awarded senior officer ranks to servicemen at an official ceremony in the Coat of Arms Hall at the Presidential building in Sofia.

The Head of State pointed out that the appointments come at a time of a sharp deterioration of the security environment, of an expansion of the spectrum of risks and threats to national and collective security, and of the increasing use of the right to force in international relations.

In his words, this complex and challenging environment imposes new and ever higher demands on the defence capabilities of Bulgaria's armed forces, accelerating the modernization processes and effective commissioning of new military equipment, rethinking strategies, tactics and doctrines, and adapting the military education system.  

Radev noted the growing and active role of Bulgaria's armed forces in building the new European security architecture.

By his decree, the Head of State appointed Brigadier General Nikolay Rusev as Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force, relieving him of the post of Commander of the 3rd Air Base. Radev awarded Brigadier General Rusev the senior officer rank of Major General.

The President appoints Brigadier General Mitko Grigorov Deputy Commander of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Greece (NRDC-GR) and dismisses him from the post of Director of the Logistics Directorate at the Ministry of Defence. The Head of State awarded Brigadier General Grigorov the senior officer rank of Major General.

Colonel Nikolay Kebapchiev is appointed Commander of the Logistics Support Command and awarded the senior officer rank of Brigadier General.

The Head of State appoints Captain 1st Rank Radko Penev as Commander of the Flotilla of Combat and Auxiliary Ships and awards him the senior officer rank of Flotilla Admiral.

Radev appointed Colonel Stancho Kaykov, who was awarded the senior officer rank of Brigadier general, as the Commandant of the Vasil Levski National Military University.