The Turkish Supreme Military Council has appointed Metin Gürak as the new chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, a decision announced today by the office of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Metin Gürak replaces Yasar Güler, named defence minister in Erdoğan's new government that emerged from last May's presidential election.
Yüksek Askerî Şûra kararlarının kahraman ordumuz ve milletimiz için hayırlara vesile olmasını diliyorum.
Ülkemize eşsiz hizmetlerde bulunan tüm komutanlarımıza şükranlarımı sunuyor, yeni görev tevdi edilenlere Allah’tan muvaffakiyetler niyaz ediyorum. pic.twitter.com/Sy49ZHHeBl
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) August 3, 2023
He was born on August 20, 1960, in the Kızıltepe district of Mardin. Gürak graduated from the Turkish Military Academy in 1981, the Artillery and Missile School in 1982, the Army Aviation School in 1985, the Military Academy in 1990 and the Armed Forces Academy in 1996.
After his duties in various units and headquarters, Gürak served as the deputy commander of the 49th Internal Security Infantry Brigade and the general secretary of the 1st Army. He was promoted to brigadier general in 2006 and appointed as the Commander of the 2nd Armored Brigade.
Gürak also served as the Chief of the Communications Department of the General Staff with the rank of Brigadier General. While carrying out this duty, he held weekly briefings on behalf of the Turkish Armed Forces about Ergenekon, Sledgehammer and other cases related to the Turkish Armed Forces.
He was promoted to the rank of major general in 2010. In this rank, he served in the Army War College between 2010-2013, Army Aviation School between 2013-2014 and Army Aviation Command between 2014-2015.
In 2015, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and appointed as the commander of the 4th Corps.
July 15 Coup Attempt
Before the July 15 Coup Attempt, at around 18.30, he went to the Armored Units School and Training Division in Etimesgut with the order of the Chief of General Staff, General Hulusi Akar, that no tanks moved, and those on the move returned to the nearest units;
He also inspected the Land Aviation Command so that no aircraft could fly. He went to the General Staff headquarters at around 22:00, was detained by the putschists and was taken to Akıncı Air Base. He was later rescued the next day, along with other commanders.
2016-
Between 2016-2017, EDOK Combat Service Support Training Command; between 2017-2018, Turkish Land Forces Chief of Staff; and between 2018-2020, TSK General Staff II. He carried out the duties of the President.
He was appointed Libyan Military Advisor to the Turkish Armed Forces on January 10, 2020.
In 2020, he was promoted to full general and appointed to the 2nd Army Command.
On December 24, 2021, he was awarded the Turkish Armed Forces Distinguished Service Medal by the Minister of National Defense, Hulusi Akar, for his achievements. He was appointed to the Chief of General Staff in 2023.
He speaks English and Arabic.
