Leonīds Kalniņš
Commander of the National Armed Forces
PROMOTIONS
2017 Lieutenant General
2016 Major General
2014 Brigadier General
2011 Colonel
2005 Lieutenant Colonel
1999 Major
EDUCATION
2013 - 2013 Baltic Defence College, Higher Command Studies Course
2010 - 2011 Army Command and General Staff College, USA
1987-1990 Kharkov Higher Military engineering academy , USSR
1975 Dobele 1 st High School
LANGUAGES
Latvian – mother tongue
English – fluent
Russian – fluent
MILITARY CAREER
2017 Commander of the National Armed Forces
2016 Chief of Staff Joint HQ, Deputy Chief of Defence
2011 Commander of the National Guard
2009 Chief of Staff of National Guard
2006 Commander of Latvian military contingent in Iraq
2005 Chief G3 (operations), National Guard
2004 Chief of Doctrine and Interoperability division, TRADOC
2003 Commander of Reconnaissance training centre
2000 Chief of S-4 (logistics) branch 51. National Guard battalion
1997-1999 Service in the 51. National Guard battalion in several positions
AWARDS
2008 Commander of Viestur's Order
2005 Promoting Latvia's participation in NATO Minister of Defense Award "Medal of Honorary Recognition"
2006 Commemorative medal for participation in international operations, Chief of Defense Award
2003 Medal for Diligence in Military Service, Chief of Defense Award
2009 "Medal of Merit for TRADOC development" 3rd Class, TRADOC commander Award
2008 "Medal for service to the nation and Latvia" 1st class, National Guard commander Award
2015 Diploma for Outstanding Military Service, Minster of Defense Award
2017 Medal of Merit in Service, 1st Class, Award of Chief of Defense
FOREIGN AWARDS
2015 Lithuanian National Defense Volunteer Forces
2006 Medal of Distinction
Medal of Multinational Division Centre – South in Iraq