What Path Has the New Chief of the General Staff Taken?

On June 8, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan appointed Lieutenant General Onik Gasparyan as the new Chief of the General Staff. Here is his biography:

He was appointed Deputy Chief of the RA Armed Forces General Staff on July 7, 2016.

Career

1993 - 2007: Held various positions including deputy commander of a battalion, deputy chief of staff of a regiment, head of reconnaissance, deputy regiment commander, and commander of several military units.

2001 - 2005: Served as commander of military unit 51191.

2005 - 2007: Commanded military unit 68617.

2007 - 2008: Served as the deputy chief of staff and commander of the 4th Army Corps of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia.

2010 - 2012: Held the position of deputy chief of staff and commander of the 3rd Army Corps of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia.

On April 11, 2012, he was appointed as the commander of the 3rd Army Corps by presidential decree.

On January 21, 2015, he was awarded the military rank of "Major General" by presidential decree.

On July 7, 2016, he was appointed as Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces.

On June 15, 2017, he was appointed as the First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces.

On July 3, 2019, he was awarded the military rank of "Lieutenant General" by presidential decree.

Education

1976 - 1985: Studied at Ijevan Secondary School No. 5.

1985 - 1986: Attended and graduated from Yerevan Secondary School No. 147.

1996 - 1997: Studied and graduated from the Russian Ministry of Defense's "Vistrel" higher officer courses specializing in motorized rifle battalion command.

1998 - 2001: Attended and graduated with a "gold medal" from the Russian Armed Forces military academy.

2008 - 2010: Studied and graduated with honors from the military academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

Other Activities

Service and Participation in Combat Operations:

1988 - 1990: Served in the USSR Armed Forces as a conscript.

1990 - 1993: Participated in the self-defense of the borders of Armenia as part of the Ijevan "Saroy" detachment.

1993 - 1998: Served in military unit 51191, occupying various positions including deputy commander of a battalion, deputy chief of staff of a regiment, assistant head of reconnaissance, head of reconnaissance, and deputy commander of a regiment.

1994: Severely injured in a landmine explosion while performing combat missions.

Awards

For active participation in combat operations, successfully leading military units, and making a significant personal contribution to the military construction of the Republic of Armenia, he has been awarded medals for "Combat Service," "Bravery," and "For Services to the Homeland" of the 1st degree by the President of Armenia, as well as departmental awards such as "Marshal Baghramyan," "Vazgen Sargsyan," "Garegin Nzhdeh," and "Drastamat Kanayan" by the Minister of Defense, and various degrees of the medal for "Impeccable Service," the commemorative medal for the 20th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, along with commemorative medals and hunting weapons from the Prime Minister of Armenia.