Esa Pulkkinen to continue as Permanent Secretary of Finland's Ministry of Defence until 31 January 2026

On 16 January 2025, the Finnish Government decided to extend the appointment of Esa Pulkkinen, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, beyond his statutory age of retirement from 1 August 2025 to 31 January 2026.

The appointment is extended to ensure the successful implementation of the new Government Defence Report.

The Government Defence Report was issued in December 2024, defining the basic guidelines for Finland's membership in NATO. The year 2025 is a critical time as the defence administration will start to implement the policies outlined in the defence report.

Esa Pulkkinen has served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence since 1 January 2022. His fixed-term appointment was due to end on 31 July 2025 upon his reaching the statutory age of retirement under the Act on Public Officials in Central Government. A public-service employment relationship may be extended by two years at the most, subject to consent of the public official in question.

As the most senior public official in the Ministry of Defence, the Permanent Secretary is responsible for the Ministry's activities and for the successful performance of the Ministry's tasks.

Inquiries: Kati Virtanen, Director of the Personnel Unit, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 435. Esa Pulkkinen can be contacted via Niina Hyrsky, Director of Communications, tel. +358 295 140 120.