Raimundas Vaikšnoras is assuming his duties as Lithuania’s chief of defence on Wednesday.
President Gitanas Nausėda will confer the rank of general on him before the official change of command ceremony at Cathedral Square in Vilnius.
General Valdemaras Rupšys, who has served as chief of defence since 2019, will hand over his duties to Vaikšnoras during the ceremony in the evening.
Vaikšnoras has been serving in the Lithuanian Armed Forces for 33 years. His military career includes positions as commander of the Iron Wolf mechanised infantry brigade, commander of the Lithuanian Land Force, and deputy chief of staff for operations at the Defence Staff.
Most recently, he served as assistant chief of staff for combat training at NATO’s Headquarters Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (HQ JFCBS).
Vaikšnoras is a graduate of the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania and the United States Army War College.
Under the Constitution, the chief of defence is appointed for a five-year term by the president with the parliament’s approval.
The parliament backed his appointment in June with 110 votes in favour, none against or abstaining.
The new chief of defence has said he will maintain continuity and will work to implement already approved plans. He has identified hosting the German brigade in Lithuania, forming a national military division and increasing the number of conscripts as his priorities.
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
