The Chief of General Staff (Romanian: Șeful Statului Major General) is the highest professional military authority in the Romanian Armed Forces. He is appointed by the President of Romania, at the National Defense Minister's proposal (with the approval of the Prime Minister) on a four-year period, with the possibility of one-year extension. The Deputy Chief of General Staff or one of the Chiefs of the Services can be appointed in this position.

Chief of Defence Staff
Șeful Statului Major General
Coat of arms of the Romanian General Staff
Identification flag of the Romanian General Staff (obverse and reverse)
Incumbent
General Gheorghiță Vlad
since 30 November 2023
Romanian Armed Forces
AppointerPresident of Romania
Term length4 years,
can be extended up to 5 years
Constituting instrumentLaw no. 346 from 21 July 2006 (art. 12)[1]
Formation12 November 1859
First holderGrigore Gărdescu [ro]
WebsiteOfficial website

Role of the General Staff

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According to Law no. 346 from 21 July 2006 (art. 12), the General Staff provides for:

  • Force command;
  • Organization;
  • Planning and making operational;
  • Gradual increase of readiness levels;
  • Mobilization;
  • Conduct of joint operations;
  • Troops' training;
  • Basic and specialty training of the active-duty and reserve military personnel;
  • Military personnel individual career management;
  • Armaments planning;
  • Standardization in the military field;
  • Implementation of the C4ISR, logistic and infrastructure system;
  • Conduct of the international military relations;
  • Religious assistance in the MoND;
  • Signing technical agreements with other states armed forces;
  • Promotion of the military culture and civil education values.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee is established at the level of the General Staff. The committee is a deliberative structure, having a consultative role. The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee meets to discuss important topics with regard to the Romanian Armed Forces’ activity, usually quarterly or whenever necessary.

The Chief of General Staff is also the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

The Gallery of the Chiefs of General Staff consists of 48 Flag and Commissioned Officers in the 1859–2006 timeframe.

List of the Chiefs

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United Principalities (1860–1881)

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No. Portrait Chief of the General Staff Took office Left office Time in office
1Gărdescu, GrigoreColonel
Grigore Gărdescu [ro]
8 January 186029 January 186021 days
2Sămășescu, IstratieMajor
Istratie Sămășescu [ro]
29 January 186030 May 1860122 days
3Florescu, Ion EmanuelGeneral
Ion Emanuel Florescu
(1819–1893)
30 May 186030 August 186092 days
(3)Florescu, Ion EmanuelGeneral
Ion Emanuel Florescu
(1819–1893)
21 April 18641 May 18662 years, 10 days
4Slăniceanu, GheorgheColonel
Gheorghe Slăniceanu [ro]
(1835–1885)
27 April 187718 August 1877113 days
5Barozzi, ConstantinColonel
Constantin Barozzi [ro]
(1833–1921)
18 August 187720 October 187763 days
6Fălcoianu, ȘtefanGeneral
Ștefan Fălcoianu
(1835–1905)
20 October 187718780–1 years
(4)Slăniceanu, GheorgheColonel
Gheorghe Slăniceanu [ro]
(1835–1885)
187822 February 18790–1 years

Kingdom of Romania (1881–1947)

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No. Portrait Chief of the General Staff Took office Left office Time in office
7Cernat, AlexandruGeneral
Alexandru Cernat
(1828–1893)
188118820–1 years
(4)Slăniceanu, GheorgheColonel
Gheorghe Slăniceanu [ro]
(1835–1885)
188215 April 18830–1 years
(6)Fălcoianu, ȘtefanGeneral
Ștefan Fălcoianu
(1835–1905)
15 April 188323 May 18841 year, 38 days
8Dona, NicolaeColonel
Nicolae Dona [ro]
(1833–1916)
23 May 188413 January 18861 year, 235 days
(6)Fălcoianu, ȘtefanGeneral
Ștefan Fălcoianu
(1835–1905)
13 January 188618 June 18948 years, 156 days
9Lahovary, IacobGeneral
Iacob Lahovary
(1846–1907)
1 October 18941 October 18951 year
(5)Barozzi, ConstantinColonel
Constantin Barozzi [ro]
(1833–1921)
1 October 18951 October 18983 years
10Poenaru, ConstantinGeneral
Constantin Poenaru
(1842–1912)
1 October 18981 April 19012 years, 182 days
11Cărcăleteanu, AlexandruGeneral de brigadă
Alexandru Cărcăleteanu [ro]
(1843–1936)
1 April 19011 April 19043 years
12Tătărăscu, NicolaeGeneral de brigadă
Nicolae Tătărăscu [ro]
(1850–1916)
1 April 19041 April 19073 years
13Crăiniceanu, GrigoreGeneral
Grigore C. Crăiniceanu
(1852–1935)
1 April 19071 November 19092 years, 214 days
14Istrati, IoanGeneral Adjutant
Ioan Istrati [ro]
(1860–1942)
1 November 190931 March 19111 year, 150 days
15Zottu, VasileGeneral de Divizie
Vasile Zottu [ro]
(1853–1916)
31 March 191118 November 1911232 days
16Averescu, AlexandruGeneral
Alexandru Averescu
(1859–1938)
18 November 19112 December 19132 years, 14 days
17Cristescu, ConstantinGeneral
Constantin Cristescu
(1866–1923)
2 December 19131 April 1914120 days
(15)Zottu, VasileGeneral de Divizie
Vasile Zottu [ro]
(1853–1916)
1 April 191425 October 19162 years, 207 days
Iliescu, DumitruGeneral de brigadă
Dumitru Iliescu [ro]
(1865–1940)
Acting
25 October 19165 December 191641 days
18Prezan, ConstantinGeneral de Divizie Adjutant
Constantin Prezan
(1861–1943)
5 December 19161 April 1918117 days
(17)Cristescu, ConstantinGeneral
Constantin Cristescu
(1866–1923)
1 April 191828 October 1918210 days
(18)Prezan, ConstantinGeneral de Divizie Adjutant
Constantin Prezan
(1861–1943)
28 October 191820 March 19201 year, 144 days
(17)Cristescu, ConstantinGeneral
Constantin Cristescu
(1866–1923)
1 April 19208 May 19233 years, 37 days
Gorsky, AlexandruGeneral de brigadă
Alexandru Gorsky [ro]
(1875–?)
Acting
8 May 19231 October 1923146 days
19Lupescu, AlexandruGeneral de Divizie
Alexandru Lupescu [ro]
(1865–1934)
1 October 192321 June 19273 years, 263 days
20Samsonovici, NicolaeGeneral de Divizie
Nicolae Samsonovici
(1877–1950)
21 June 192711 August 19325 years, 51 days
21Lăzărescu, ConstantinGeneral de Divizie
Constantin Lăzărescu [ro]
11 August 193230 November 19331 year, 111 days
22Antonescu, IonGeneral
Ion Antonescu
(1882–1946)
1 December 193311 December 19341 year, 10 days
(20)Samsonovici, NicolaeGeneral de Divizie
Nicolae Samsonovici
(1877–1950)
11 December 19341 February 19372 years, 52 days
Sichitiu, IonGeneral de Divizie
Ion Sichitiu [ro]
(1878–1952)
Acting
1 February 19371 November 1937273 days
23Ionescu, ŞtefanGeneral de Divizie
Ștefan Ionescu [ro]
(1881–?)
1 November 19371 February 19391 year, 92 days
24Țenescu, FloreaGeneral de Divizie Adjutant
Florea Țenescu [ro]
(1884–1941)
1 February 193923 August 19401 year, 204 days
25Mihail, GheorgheGeneral de Divizie Adjutant
Gheorghe Mihail
(1887–1982)
23 August 19406 September 194014 days
26Ioanițiu, AlexandruGeneral de Brigadă
Alexandru Ioanițiu
(1890–1941)
6 September 194017 September 1941359 days
27Iacobici, IosifGeneral de Corp de Armată Adjutant
Iosif Iacobici
(1884–1952)
22 September 194120 January 1942153 days
28Șteflea, IlieGeneral de Corp de Armată
Ilie Șteflea
(1888–1946)
20 January 194223 August 19442 years, 216 days
(26)Mihail, GheorgheGeneral de Divizie Adjutant
Gheorghe Mihail
(1887–1982)
23 August 194412 October 194450 days
29Rădescu, NicolaeGeneral de Corp de Armată Adjutant
Nicolae Rădescu
(1874–1953)
15 October 19446 December 194452 days
30Sănătescu, ConstantinGeneral de Corp de Armată
Constantin Sănătescu
(1885–1947)
11 December 194420 June 1945221 days
31Ionașcu, ConstinGeneral de Corp de Armată
Costin Ionașcu [ro]
(1890–1969)
20 June 194527 December 19472 years, 190 days

Communist Romania (1947–1989)

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No. Portrait Chief of the General Staff Took office Left office Time in office
33Popescu, ConstantinColonel General
Constantin Gh. Popescu [ro]
(1893–1985)
30 January 194818 March 19502 years, 47 days
34Sălăjan, LeontinArmy General
Leontin Sălăjan
(1913–1966)
18 March 195026 April 19544 years, 39 days
35Tutoveanu, IonGeneral
Ion Tutoveanu [ro]
(1914–2014)
26 April 195415 June 196511 years, 50 days
36Gheorghe, IonGeneral
Gheorghe Ion [ro]
(1923–2009)
15 June 196529 November 19749 years, 167 days
37Coman, IonLieutenant General
Ion Coman
(born 1926)
29 November 197416 June 19761 year, 200 days
38Hortopan, IonLieutenant General
Ion Hortopan [ro]
(1925–2000)
1 July 197631 March 19803 years, 274 days
39Milea, VasileColonel General
Vasile Milea
(1927–1989)
31 March 198016 February 19854 years, 322 days
40Gușă, ȘtefanColonel General
Ștefan Gușă
(1940–1994)
25 September 198628 December 19893 years, 97 days

Romania (1989–present)

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No. Portrait Chief of the General Staff Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch
41Ionel, VasileGeneral
Vasile Ionel [ro]
(1927–2015)
29 December 19892 May 19911 year, 124 days 
Army
42Cioflină, DumitruGeneral
Dumitru Cioflină [ro]
(born 1942)
3 May 199122 January 19975 years, 264 days 
Army
43Degeratu, ConstantinGeneral
Constantin Degeratu [ro]
(born 1948)
22 January 19977 March 20003 years, 45 days 
Army
44Chelaru, MirceaLieutenant General
Mircea Chelaru
(born 1949)
7 March 200031 October 2000238 days 
Army
45Popescu, Mihail EugenGeneral
Mihail Eugen Popescu [ro]
(1948–2013)
31 October 200025 October 20043 years, 360 days 
Army
46Bădălan, EugenGeneral
Eugen Bădălan [ro]
(born 1951)
25 October 200413 September 20061 year, 323 days 
Army
47Marin, GheorgheAdmiral
Gheorghe Marin [ro]
(born 1952)
13 September 200631 December 20104 years, 109 days 
Navy
48Dănilă, ȘtefanGeneral
Ștefan Dănilă [ro]
(born 1965)
1 January 201131 December 20143 years, 364 days 
Air Force
49Ciucă, NicolaeGeneral
Nicolae Ciucă
(born 1967)
1 January 201528 October 20194 years, 300 days 
Army
50Petrescu, DanielGeneral
Daniel Petrescu [ro; de]
(born 1971)
28 November 201930 November 20234 years, 2 days 
Army
51Vlad, GheorghițăGeneral
Gheorghiță Vlad [he]
(born 1969)
30 November 2023Incumbent1 year, 21 days 
Army

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ministry of National Defence. "About The Defence Staff". mapn.ro. Retrieved 25 August 2018.