Lieutenant General Janne Jaakkola appointed Chief of Defence

Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has proposed Lieutenant General Janne Jaakkola as the Chief of Defence for the period 1 April 2024-31 March 2029. On 31 January 2024, President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö appointed Jaakkola as the next Chief of Defence. The current Chief of Defence, General Timo Kivinen, will end his active service on 31 March 2024.

During his career, Lieutenant General Janne Alpertti 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.

Inquiries:
Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen can be contacted via Ville Sipiläinen, Special Adviser to the Minister, tel. +358407611558, [email protected].
Lieutenant General Janne Jaakkola can be contacted via the Defence Command's Public Information Division, tel. +358 299 510 975, [email protected].
Inquiries: Director of Administration Antti Korkala, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 500, [email protected].