Riho Terras

Riho Terras

Lieutenant General Riho Terras
Born (1967-04-17) 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
Chief of the General Staff
Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defence
NATO Training Mission - Iraq as Deputy Chief of Staff
Chief of the Analysis and Planning Department
Estonian Defence Attaché in Germany and Poland
Chief of Staff of the Defence League Headquarters
Commander of the Põhja Single Infantry Company
Company Commander of the Kalev Single Infantry Battalion

Battalion Second in Command of the Kalev Single Infantry Battalion
Awards

4th Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle
Commander with Star of the Norwegian Order of Merit
Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland
Commandery of the Order of Merit of the People's Republic of Poland
Officier of the National Order of the Legion of Honour
Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
1st Class of the Order of Viesturs

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

Effective dates of promotion

Promotions
Insignia Rank Date
Second LieutenantFebruary 1992
First Lieutenant23 November 1993[2]
Captain20 June 1996[3]
Major18 February 2000[4]
Lieutenant Colonel20 June 2005[5]
Colonel1 December 2008[6]
Brigadier General16 June 2011[7]
Major General18 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]
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
Distinguished Service Decoration of the Information Board (II class)
The Baltic Defence College Medal of Merit (gold)
Special Service Cross of Estonian Defence League School
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]
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. 1 2 3 Official Biography, www.mil.ee
  2. "18. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". Office of the President. November 18, 1993. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  3. "74. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". Office of the President. June 20, 1996. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  4. "89. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". Office of the President. February 18, 2000. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  5. "Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine 20.06.2005". Riigi Teataja. June 20, 2005. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  6. "76. R. Terrasele sõjaväelise auastme andmine". Office of the President. December 1, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  7. "Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". Riigi Teataja. June 16, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  8. "28. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". Office of the President. February 18, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  9. "79. Sõjaväeliste auastmete andmine". Office of the President. February 5, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  10. "4th Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle". Office of the President. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  11. "EROK teeneteristi kavalerid". Eesti Reservohvitseride Kogu. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  12. "Grand Cross of the Norwegian Order of Merit". Office of the President. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  13. "Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland". Office of the President. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  14. "Commandery of the Order of Merit of the People's Republic of Poland". Office of the President. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  15. "Sandor Liive ja Riho Terras Auleegioni kavaleriks". Õhtuleht. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  16. "Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany". Office of the President. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  17. "1st Class of the Order of Viesturs". Office of the President. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  18. "FOTOD: Kolonel Riho Terrasele anti üle Saksamaa kõrgeim sõjaväeline autasu". Delfi. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nicholas Houghton.
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
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