Gn. Jaakkola takes over as Finnish Defence Chief

General Janne Alpertti Jaakkola took over as the Chief of Finnish Defence on Monday for a five-year term, said the Ministry of Defence in a press release on Monday .

He replaced General Timo Kivinen and will continue as the Chief of Defence until March 31, 2029.

“I am confident as I assume command. We have developed Finland’s defence actively & decisively to meet the threats and risks of our current security environment,” wrote the Finnish Defence Force in a post in its social media platform X, quoting Jaakkola as saying.

General Janne Jaakkola has distinguished himself in various positions both in Finland and abroad.

He has held several positions in the Defence Command since 2015, including that of Chief of Logistics and Chief of Planning of the Defence Forces. He took up his current position as Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, on 1 January 2023.

Previously, Jaakkola has served as Chief of Staff in Pori Brigade, Battalion Commander of Utti Jaeger Regiment, and Senior Staff Officer at the Ministry of Defence, where he led and developed the Ministry's strategy work.

Jaakkola held leadership positions of Finnish troops in crisis management operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

Jaakkola graduated as a general staff officer from the National Defence University in 2001. He has also completed a general staff officer course at the Norwegian Defence University College.

He was promoted to Lieutenant General on 4 June 2023 and General on April 1, 2024.

Earlier on January 31, the then President, Sauli Niinistö Jaakkola as the Chief of Defence.