Chief of the General Staff (Czech Republic)

Chief of the General Staff
Náčelník generálního štábu
Insignia of the general staff
Flag of the General Staff
Incumbent
Army General Karel Řehka
since 1 July 2022
Ministry of Defence
Reports toMinister of Defence
SeatPrague, Czech Republic
NominatorGovernment
AppointerPresident
Term length3 years
Renewable
PrecursorChief of the Czechoslovak General Staff
Formation1 January 1993
First holderGeneral of the Army Karel Pezl
Websitewww.ARMY.cz

The Chief of the General Staff (Czech: Náčelník Generálního štábu) is the highest-ranking and most senior military officer of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. Candidate nominated to the position by the government is formally appointed by the president of the Czech Republic, who is the formal commander-in-chief, after being approved by defense committee of the Chamber of Deputies.[1] Chief of the General Staff reports to the Minister of Defence and President of the republic removes him if government proposes his removal.[1]

The current Chief of the general staff since 2022 is Army General Karel Řehka.[2]

List of officeholders

For period from 1919 to 1992, see Chief of the General Staff of Czechoslovakia.

No. Portrait Chief of the General Staff Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch Ref.
1
Pezl, KarelGeneral of the Army
Karel Pezl
(1927–2022)
1 January 199330 June 1993180 days
Army
2
Nekvasil, JiříGeneral of the Army
Jiří Nekvasil
(born 1948)
1 July 199330 April 19984 years, 303 days
Army
3
Šedivý, JiříGeneral of the Army
Jiří Šedivý
(born 1953)
1 May 199830 November 20024 years, 213 days
Army
4
Štefka, PavelGeneral of the Army
Pavel Štefka
(born 1954)
1 December 200228 February 20074 years, 89 days
Army
5
Picek, VlastimilGeneral of the Army
Vlastimil Picek
(born 1956)
[a]
1 March 200730 June 20125 years, 121 days
Air Force
6
Pavel, PetrGeneral of the Army
Petr Pavel
(born 1961)
[b]
1 July 20121 May 20152 years, 304 days
Army
7
Bečvář, JosefGeneral of the Army
Josef Bečvář
(born 1958)
1 May 20151 May 20183 years, 0 days
Army
8
Opata, AlešGeneral of the Army
Aleš Opata
(born 1964)
1 May 20181 July 20224 years, 61 days
Army
9
Řehka, KarelGeneral of the Army
Karel Řehka
(born 1975)
1 July 2022Incumbent3 years, 265 days
Special Forces

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Afterwards served as the Minister of Defence from 2013 to 2014.
  2. ^ Left the office due to appointment as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee.

References

  1. ^ a b § 7 section 4 of law no. 219/1999 Col., about Armed forces of the Czech republic
  2. ^ Kopecký, Josef (8 May 2023). "Pavel jmenoval Koudelku generálem. Zeman to blokoval a mluvil o "čučkařích"" (in Czech). Mafra. iDnes.cz. Retrieved 8 May 2023.