Yaşar Güler (born 18 September 1954) is a Turkish general who currently serves as the Minister of National Defense. He previously served as the 30th Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces from 2018 to 2023.

Yaşar Güler
Minister of National Defense
Assumed office
4 June 2023
PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan
Preceded byHulusi Akar
30th Chief of the Turkish General Staff
In office
16 July 2018 – 3 June 2023
Preceded byHulusi Akar
Succeeded byMetin Gürak
Chief of the Turkish Land Forces
In office
23 August 2017 – 16 July 2018
Preceded bySalih Zeki Çolak
Succeeded byÜmit Dündar
General Commander of the Turkish Gendarmerie
In office
28 July 2016 – 21 August 2017
Preceded byGalip Mendi
Succeeded byArif Çetin
Second chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces
In office
30 August 2013 – 28 July 2016
Preceded byHulusi Akar
Succeeded byÜmit Dündar
Personal details
Born (1954-09-18) 18 September 1954 (age 70)
Ardahan, Turkey
SpouseDemet Güler
Children1
AwardsTAF Medal of Honor, TAF Medal of Distinguished Courage and Self-Sacrifice, TAF Medal of Distinguished Service
Signature
Military service
Allegiance Turkey
Branch/serviceTurkish Land Forces
Years of service1974–2023
Rank General
CommandsGeneral Staff of the Republic of Turkey
Commander of Land Forces
Gendarmerie General Command
Deputy Chief of the General Staff
General Command of Mapping
4th Corps
Chief of the Intelligence of the Turkish General Staff
Planning and Coordination Department of the General Staff
10th Infantry Brigade Command

Career

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He enlisted in the army in 1974, which was effectively the start of his military career. He spent two years prior to his enlistment studying at the Turkish Military Academy. In the 10 years since joining the land forces, he served in various infantry and signals companies, acting as the commander of one of them. In 1986 he graduated from the Army War College with honors and graduated with the rank of a staff officer. He was promoted to brigadier general in 2001 and assumed responsibility for the 10th Infantry Brigade Command and the Planning and Coordination Department of the General Staff.

4 years later, he was promoted to major general and took over duties of the General Staff and at the School of Communications and Electronic Information Systems of the TAF in Ankara. In 2009, he was appointed to a position in the General Command of the 4th Army Corps, serving for over 2 years, this time as lieutenant general. From 2011 – 2013, he was the chief of intelligence for the armed forces, a position where he performed his duties before becoming the Deputy Chief of Staff in 2013, where he was also promoted to general and became the commander of the Gendarmerie General Command in 2016–2017, and became the Commander of Land Forces in 2017–2018, serving in those positions for a combined 5 years. On July 10, 2018, he was appointed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the 30th General Staff of the Republic of Turkey of the Armed Forces, succeeding Hulusi Akar, who was promoted to the post of Minister of National Defence that same day.[1][2]

He is currently married to Demet Güler, with whom he has a child. He has two grandchildren.

References

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  1. ^ "Biography: Yaşar Güler, Chief of the Turkish Armed Forces". NATO. 2018.
  2. ^ "Yaşar Güler". Biyografi.info (in Turkish). Retrieved February 10, 2019.
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  Media related to Yaşar Güler at Wikimedia Commons

Military offices
Preceded by Minister of National Defense
4 June 2023 – Present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Chief of the General Staff of Turkey
10 July 2018 – 3 June 2023
Succeeded by
-
Preceded by Commander of the Turkish Army
23 August 2017 – 10 July 2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by General Commanders of the Turkish Gendarmerie
28 July 2016 – 21 August 2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by TAF General Staff II. List of presidents
30 August 2013 – 28 July 2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of General Staff Intelligence
2011 – 2013
Succeeded by