The Commander of the Finnish Air Force will change on December 1
The current Commander of the Finnish Air Force, Major General Juha-Pekka Keränen, will retire to the reserve at the end of November 2024.
Brigadier General Timo Herranen will assume command of the Finnish Air Force on December 1. Colonel Aki Puustinen will take over as the new Chief of Staff, Air Force Command Finland.
Major General Keränen handed over the duties of the Commander of the Finnish Air Force to Brigadier General Herranen at a change of command ceremony on November 29. The ceremony took place at the Jyväskylä garrison in Tikkakoski.
– I am pleased to hand over the command to my successor. The Finnish Air Force has a good present and a bright future. Brigadier General Herranen is a committed, forward-looking and goal-oriented officer who gets things done, said Major General Keränen in his farewell speech.
– I am privileged to join the powerful group of Nordic Air Force Commanders. I do believe we will continue to do great things together, stated the incoming Commander Brigadier General Herranen in his speech.
Major General Keränen handed over the duties of the Commander of the Finnish Air Force to Brigadier General Herranen at a change of command ceremony on November 29.
Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force Command Finland, Colonel Tommi Heikkala commanded the parade troops at the change of command. As part of the ceremony, there was a field devotional held by Chief of Air Force Chaplains Janne Huikko.
A flypast by two F/A-18 Hornet multi-role fighters and two Hawk jet trainers honored the change of command ceremony.
Brigadier General Herranen currently serves as Chief of Staff, Air Force Command Finland, a position he has held since June 2022. Previously, he has served e.g. as Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force Command Finland in 2021‒2022 and as Commander of the Karelia Air Wing in 2018‒2020. He was promoted to Colonel in 2016 and to Brigadier General in 2022.
Major General Juha-Pekka Keränen has served as Commander of the Finnish Air Force since June 2022.