Hilmi Özkök
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General Hilmi Özkök (born 1940 in Turgutlu, Manisa Province) was the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of Turkey. He took up that post on 28 August 2002 and served until August 30, 2006 when he retired and was succeeded by General Yaşar Büyükanıt.
According to the Turkish constitution, Commander-in-Chief is responsible to the Prime Minister. In peacetime, Commander-in-Chief serves as the Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces and in times of war, the "Commander in Chief" authority on behalf of the President.
Hilmi Özkök was born in Turgutlu, Manisa and has been a career soldier. He was educated at the Isiklar (Işıklar) Military High School in Bursa and went from there in 1957 to complete a two year course at the Turkish Military Academy. Özkök left there as a second Lieutenant in the artillery. He studied at the Army War College and the NATO Defence College in the 1970s.
Özkök is considered as a dove within the Turkish army, as he has expressed support to Turkey's alignment with the European Union, and has accepted the reduced role of the National Security Council.
After completing the course at the Army War College in 1972, Özkök moved into military staff, initially with the Special Weapons Branch of the Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH) and then at SHAPE. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1984 and worked as Chief of Planning and Operations for the General Staff (TGS). From 1986-1988 he commanded the 70th Infantry Brigade and on his promotion to Major General in 1988 he commanded the 28th Infantry Division. He returned to the TGS in 1990 and was promoted to Lieutenant General in 1992 when he was sent to Brussels to head the Turkish NATO Military Delegation for three years.
On 30 August 1996 Özkök was promoted to full General and took charge of the NATO Allied Land Forces South-Eastern Europe (LANDSOUTHEAST) located in İzmir. He returned again to the TGS in 1998, this time as Deputy Chief. After a brief stint with the 1st Army, he was made Commander of the Turkish Army in 2000 before receiving his post, succeeding Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu. He served at this position until his retirement from the armed forces on August 30, 2006.
He is married to Özenç Özkök and has two children.
[edit] Awards
- (Turkish) State Medal of Honor
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Honor
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service
- Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Courage and Self-Sacrifice
- U.S. Legion Of Merit
- Pakistani Medal of Nishan-I Imtiaz
- Great Cross for Military Merit of Spain
- France Medal of Merit
- Republic of Korea Tong-Il Medal.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu |
Chief of the General Staff of Turkey Agu 28, 2002–Agu 28, 2006 |
Succeeded by Yaşar Büyükanıt |
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