National War College Alumni Association

Born in 1959 in Athens, Greece, Lieutenant General Alkiviadis STEFANIS started his military career in 1978 when he was admitted at the Hellenic Military Academy (SSE) in Athens. He was commissioned as an Armored Officer in 1982 and was immediately assigned as Armored Platoon, Company Battalion and Brigade Commander, and later on as an instructor at the Military Academy.

In 1994, he attended the US Armored Advanced Course (Fort Knox, KY, USA) after which he served as an instructor to the Armored Officers’ Training Center in Athens, Greece for two years.
In 1997, he attended the War College, in Thessaloniki, Greece, establishing the full range of a staff officer capacity. He subsequently conducted a Commanding period (1998-2000) at the 98th Armor Battalion in Lesvos. Later he was nominated as “Aid de Camp” of the President of the Hellenic Republic (2000-2002), gaining experience in military diplomacy. During this time he acquired advanced University education that concluded to an MBA degree in “Crisis Response Operations”.

The following three years (2002-2005), he was assigned to NATO HQs in Brussels, BE, as Operational Officer of the Hellenic MILREP, which offered him a wide range of knowledge in various operational issues within the Alliance.

Upon returning to Greece, he became the Direction of Evolution Project Office within the National Defense General Staff, Joint Forces HQs (2005 to 2007). From this post he was able to reevaluate operations within the Joint Forces and introduced evolution to future challenges and environment. Parallel to the above he attended the National Defense College (via e-learning) thus enhancing his knowledge in military diplomacy and strategic studies.
In 2007, he was promoted to Colonel and was assigned as Chief of Staff at the XXIII Armored Brigade in Alexandroupolis. In 2008 he attended the National Defense University in Washington DC, USA where he acquired a second MBA degree in “National Security Strategy” as a “Distinguished Graduate”.

His next assignment was as Deputy Commander of the 50th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Soufli. His promotion to Brigadier General followed, after which he became the Director of Defense Planning and Programming Directorate of the Hellenic Army General Staff (HAGS) in Athens.

In 2011 he was assigned as the Commander of the XXIII Armored Brigade in Alexandroupolis, a position that enhanced his military experience as a tactical Commander.

After his promotion to Major General in 2013 he became the Director of the D’ Branch within the HAGS, responsible for Defense Planning and Programming, Organization, Education and Training, Doctrine - Lessons Learned and Public Relations Directorates.

In July 2013, he was nominated Operation Commander for the EU OPCENT to conduct the EU MILEX-13.

In 2014, he became the Commander of the 95 Division, in Rodos.

After his promotion to Lieutenant General in 2016, he became the Commander of the C΄ Army Corps and NRDC – GR, in Thessaloniki.

On the 16th of January 2017, upon decision of the Governmental Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense, Lieutenant General Alikiviadis STEFANIS became the Chief of the Hellenic Army.

Medals - Awards (Decoration):
Commanders High Cross of the Order of Honour.
Commanders High Cross of the Order of Phoenix.
Medal of Military Merit A' Class.
Chief of General Staff Commendation Medal.
Commendation Medal Star of Merit and Honour.
Commendation Cross of Merit and Honour A' Class.
Force Formation Command Medal A' Class.
Force Meritorious Command Medal A' Class.
Staff Officer Service Commendation Medal A' Class.
Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Lieutenant General Alkiviadis Stefanis is interested in ongoing education and sports.