Chief of the Defence Staff (Lithuania)

{{Infobox official post

| post = Chief

| body = the Defence Staff

| native_name = {{small|Lietuvos Kariuomenės Štabo Viršininkas}}

| insignia = Brass Insignia of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.svg

| insigniasize = 150px

| insigniacaption = Insignia of the Lithuanian Armed Forces

| insigniaalt =

| flag = Lithuanian Armed Forces Battle flag (reverse).png

| flagsize = 150px

| flagalt =

| flagborder =

| flagcaption = Flag of the Lithuanian Armed Forces

| image =

| imagesize =

| alt =

| imagecaption =

| incumbent = Remigijus Baltrėnas

| acting =

| incumbentsince = 21 August 2024

| department = Lithuanian Armed Forces

| style =

| type =

| status =

| abbreviation =

| member_of = Defence Staff

| reports_to = Chief of Defence

| residence =

| seat =

| nominator =

| appointer =

| appointer_qualified =

| termlength =

| termlength_qualified =

| constituting_instrument =

| precursor =

| formation = 23 November 1918

| first = {{ill|Jurgis Kubilius|lt}}

| last =

| abolished =

| succession =

| unofficial_names =

| deputy =

| salary =

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

Chief of the Defence Staff is the head of the Lithuanian Defence Staff responsible for the administrative, operational, and logistical needs of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

List of chiefs

=Chiefs of the General Staff (1918–1940)=

{{Officeholder table start

| showorder = y

| showimage = y

| officeholder_title = Chief of the General Staff

| showtermlenght = y

| showparty = n

| showdefencebranch = n

| showref = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 1

| image = KubiliusJurgis.jpg

| military_rank = Colonel (pulkininkas)

| officeholder = {{ill|Jurgis Kubilius|lt}}

| officeholder_sort = Kubilius

| born_year = 1875

| died_year = 1961

| term_start = 23 November 1918

| term_end = 24 December 1918

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1918|11|24|1918|12|24}}

| ref = {{cite journal |url=https://kam.lt/kam/download/1102/krasto%20apsauga_20.pdf |title=Lietuvos kariuomenės štabo viršininkai 1918–2008 m. |journal=Krašto apsauga |volume= 20 |issue=149 |date=19 November 2008 |language=lt |issn=2029-4565 |page=4}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image = LiatukasPranas.jpg

| military_rank = Karininkas

| officeholder = Pranas Liatukas

| officeholder_sort = Liatukas

| born_year = 1876

| died_year = 1945

| term_start = 24 December 1918

| term_end = 4 March 1919

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1918|12|24|1919|3|4}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order =

| image =

| military_rank = Karininkas

| officeholder = Edvardas Adamkavičius

| officeholder_sort = Adamkavicius

| born_year = 1888

| died_year = 1957

| term_start = 4 March 1919

| term_end = 26 March 1919

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1919|3|4|1919|3|26}}

| acting = y

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 3

| image = Silvestras-Žukauskas.jpg

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = Silvestras Žukauskas

| officeholder_sort = Zukauskas

| born_year = 1860

| died_year = 1937

| term_start = 26 April 1919

| term_end = 27 May 1919

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1919|4|26|1919|5|27}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 4

| image = VelykisMykolas.jpg

| military_rank = Karininkas

| officeholder = {{ill|Mykolas Velykis|lt}}

| officeholder_sort = Velykis

| born_year = 1884

| died_year = 1955

| term_start = 26 May 1919

| term_end = 7 October 1919

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1919|5|29|1919|10|7}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 5

| image = NastopkaStasys.jpg

| military_rank = Lieutenant General

| officeholder = Stasys Nastopka

| officeholder_sort = Nastopka

| born_year = 1881

| died_year = 1939

| term_start = 7 October 1919

| term_end = 13 July 1920

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1919|10|07|1920|07|13}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 6

| image = Maksimas_Katche.JPG

| military_rank = Lieutenant General

| officeholder = Maksimas Katche

| officeholder_sort = Katche

| born_year = 1879

| died_year = 1933

| term_start = 13 July 1920

| term_end = 21 August 1920

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1920|07|13|1920|08|21}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order =

| image = Adolfas_Birontas.jpg

| military_rank = Major

| officeholder = {{ill|Adolfas Birontas|lt}}

| officeholder_sort = Birontas

| born_year = 1885

| died_year = 1958

| term_start = 21 August 1920

| term_end = 23 August 1920

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1920|08|21|1920|08|23}}

| acting = y

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 7

| image = KleščinskisK.jpg

| military_rank = Colonel

| officeholder = Konstantinas Kleščinskis

| officeholder_sort = Klescinskis

| born_year = 1879

| died_year = 1927

| term_start = 23 August 1920

| term_end = 13 April 1921

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1920|08|23|1921|04|13}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 8

| image = Maksimas_Katche.JPG

| military_rank = Lieutenant General

| officeholder = Maksimas Katche

| officeholder_sort = Katche

| born_year = 1879

| died_year = 1933

| term_start = 13 April 1921

| term_end = 7 October 1922

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1921|04|13|1922|10|07}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order =

| image =

| military_rank = Major

| officeholder = {{ill|Jonas Gricius (military officer)|lt|Jonas Gricius (1884)|lt=Jonas Gricius}}

| officeholder_sort = Gricius

| born_year = 1884

| died_year = 1963

| term_start = 7 October 1922

| term_end = 6 November 1923

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1922|10|07|1923|11|06}}

| acting = y

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 9

| image =

| military_rank = General

| officeholder = {{ill|Leonas Radus-Zenkavičius|lt}}

| officeholder_sort = Radus

| born_year = 1874

| died_year = 1946

| term_start = 6 November 1923

| term_end = 29 February 1924

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1923|11|06|1924|02|29|}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order =

| image =

| military_rank = Lieutenant colonel

| officeholder = {{ill|Jonas Gricius (military officer)|lt|Jonas Gricius (1884)|lt=Jonas Gricius}}

| officeholder_sort = Gricius

| born_year = 1884

| died_year = 1963

| term_start = 29 February 1924

| term_end = 7 May 1925

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1924|02|29|1925|05|07}}

| acting = y

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 10

| image = LadygaK.jpg

| military_rank = Colonel of the General Staff

| officeholder = Kazys Ladiga

| officeholder_sort = Ladiga

| born_year = 1893

| died_year = 1941

| term_start = 7 May 1925

| term_end = 16 September 1925

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1925|05|07|1925|09|16}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order =

| image =

| military_rank = Lieutenant colonel

| officeholder = {{ill|Jonas Gricius (military officer)|lt|Jonas Gricius (1884)|lt=Jonas Gricius}}

| officeholder_sort = Gricius

| born_year = 1884

| died_year = 1963

| term_start = 16 September 1925

| term_end = 19 October 1925

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1925|09|16|1925|10|19}}

| acting = y

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 11

| image = LadygaK.jpg

| military_rank = Lieutenant general

| officeholder = Kazys Ladiga

| officeholder_sort = Ladiga

| born_year = 1893

| died_year = 1941

| term_start = 19 October 1925

| term_end = 22 June 1926

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1925|10|19|1926|06|22}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 12

| image = Kazys_Skirpa.png

| military_rank = Lieutenant colonel of the General Staff

| officeholder = Kazys Škirpa

| officeholder_sort = Skirpa

| born_year = 1895

| died_year = 1979

| term_start = 22 June 1926

| term_end = 24 December 1926

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1926|06|22|1926|12|24}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 13

| image = Teodoras_Daukantas.jpeg

| military_rank = Colonel

| officeholder = Teodoras Daukantas

| officeholder_sort = Daukantas

| born_year = 1884

| died_year = 1960

| term_start = 24 December 1926

| term_end = 11 August 1927

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1926|12|24|1927|08|11}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 14

| image = General_Povilas_Plechavicius_(1890-1973).jpg

| military_rank = Colonel of the General Staff

| officeholder = Povilas Plechavičius

| officeholder_sort = Plechavicius

| born_year = 1890

| died_year = 1973

| term_start = 11 August 1927

| term_end = 10 February 1929

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1927|08|11|1929|02|10}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 15

| image = Petras Kubiliunas.jpeg

| military_rank = Lieutenant general

| officeholder = Petras Kubiliūnas

| officeholder_sort = Kubiliunas

| born_year = 1894

| died_year = 1946

| term_start = 10 February 1929

| term_end = 7 June 1934

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1929|02|10|1934|06|07}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 16

| image =

| military_rank = Lieutenant general

| officeholder = {{ill|Jonas Jackus|lt}}

| officeholder_sort = Jackus

| born_year = 1894

| died_year = 1977

| term_start = 7 June 1934

| term_end = 21 September 1934

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1934|06|07|1934|09|21}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 17

| image = General_Stasys_Rastikis_(1896–1985).jpg

| military_rank = Lieutenant colonel of the General Staff

| officeholder = Stasys Raštikis

| officeholder_sort = Rastikis

| born_year = 1896

| died_year = 1985

| term_start = 21 September 1934

| term_end = 1 January 1935

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1934|09|21|1935|01|01}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 18

| image = Jonas_Černius.jpg

| military_rank = Colonel of the General Staff

| officeholder = Jonas Černius

| officeholder_sort = Cernius

| born_year = 1898

| died_year = 1977

| term_start = 1 January 1935

| term_end = 30 March 1939

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1935|01|01|1939|03|30}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 19

| image =

| military_rank = Divisional general

| officeholder = Stasys Pundzevičius

| officeholder_sort = Pundzevicius

| born_year = 1893

| died_year = 1980

| term_start = 1 April 1939

| term_end = 15 June 1940

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1939|04|01|1940|06|15}}

| ref =

}}

=Chiefs of the Defence Staff (since 1990)=

{{Officeholder table start

| showorder = y

| showimage = y

| officeholder_title = Chief of the General Satff

| showtermlenght = y

| showparty = n

| showdefencebranch = n

| showref = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 1

| image =

| military_rank = Colonel

| officeholder = Norbertas Vidrinskas

| officeholder_sort = Vidrinskas

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 21 May 1991

| term_end = 3 February 1992

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1991|05|21|1992|02|03}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image = Lt-Gen_Tutkus.jpg

| military_rank = Colonel

| officeholder = Valdas Tutkus

| officeholder_sort = Tutkus

| born_year = 1960

| died_year =

| term_start = 3 February 1992

| term_end = 1 February 1993

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1992|02|03|1993|02|01}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 3

| image =

| military_rank = Colonel

| officeholder = Stasys Knezys

| officeholder_sort = Knezys

| born_year = 1948

| died_year = 2011

| term_start = 1 February 1993

| term_end = 3 January 1994

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1993|02|01|1994|01|03}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 4

| image = Lt-Gen_Tutkus.jpg

| military_rank = Colonel

| officeholder = Valdas Tutkus

| officeholder_sort = Tutku

| born_year = 1960

| died_year =

| term_start = 3 January 1994

| term_end = 1 November 1996

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1994|01|03|1996|11|01}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 5

| image =

| military_rank = Colonel

| officeholder = {{ill|Antanas Jurgaitis|lt}}

| officeholder_sort = Jurgaitis

| born_year = 1957

| died_year =

| term_start = 4 November 1996

| term_end = 17 March 2003

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1996|11|04|2003|03|17}}

| ref = }}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 6

| image = MG_Vitalijus_Vaikšnoras.jpg

| military_rank = Major general

| officeholder = {{ill|Vitalijus Vaikšnoras|lt}}

| officeholder_sort = Vaiksnoras

| born_year = 1961

| died_year =

| term_start = 24 April 2003

| term_end = 30 June 2008{{efn|During 2008, the Defence Staff was superseded by the Joint Staff. The Defence Staff continued to function until May 2011{{cite web|url=https://www.respublika.lt/lt/naujienos/lietuva/kitos_lietuvos_zinios/kam_pajegumu_ir_ginkluotes_generaliniu_direktoriumi_tapo_aleika/ |title=KAM pajėgumų ir ginkluotės generaliniu direktoriumi tapo A.Leika |date=10 May 2011 |publisher=Respublika.lt |language=lt |access-date=11 April 2021}} and was led by Kęstutis Macijauskas (2008–2010) and Edvardas Mažeikis (2010–2011).{{cite web| url=http://kam.lt/lt/naujienos_874/archyvas_930/ziniu_archyvas_2010_metai/ziniu_archyvas_2010_-_050/tarnyba_pradejo_naujasis_gynybos_stabo_virsininkas.html |title=Tarnybą pradėjo naujasis Gynybos štabo viršininkas |date=13 May 2010 |publisher=Ministry of National Defence, Republic of Lithuania |language=lt |access-date=11 April 2021}}}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2003|04|24|2008|06|30}}

| ref =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 7

| image = Algis_Vaičeliūnas_(01mt7z4847).jpg

| military_rank =

| officeholder = {{ill|Algis Vaičeliūnas|lt}}

| officeholder_sort = Vaiceliunas

| born_year = 1961

| died_year =

| term_start = 23 April 2008

| term_end = 29 June 2011

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2008|04|23|2011|6|29}}

| ref = {{cite encyclopedia |first= |last= |date=2 September 2019 |orig-year=2017 |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/jungtinis-stabas/ |title=Jungtinis štabas |encyclopedia=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |publisher=Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos centras |language=lt}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 8

| image =

| military_rank = Brigade general

| officeholder = {{ill|Vilmantas Tamošaitis|lt}}

| officeholder_sort = Tamosaitis

| born_year = 1966

| died_year =

| term_start = 29 June 2011

| term_end = 16 August 2016

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2011|6|29|2016|8|16}}

| ref = {{cite web |url=http://kam.lt/lt/naujienos_874/aktualijos_875/pasikeite_jungtinio_stabo_vadovybe? |title=Pasikeitė Jungtinio štabo vadovybė |date=29 June 2011 |publisher=Ministry of National Defence, Republic of Lithuania |language=lt |access-date=11 April 2021}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 9

| image = MG_Vitalijus_Vaikšnoras.jpg

| military_rank = Major general

| officeholder = {{ill|Vitalijus Vaikšnoras|lt}}

| officeholder_sort = Vaiksnoras

| born_year = 1961

| died_year =

| term_start = 16 August 2016

| term_end = 29 July 2019

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2016|08|19|2019|7|29}}

| ref = {{cite web |title=Major General V. Vaikšnoras will head the Joint Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces |date=12 August 2018 |url=http://kam.lt/en/news_1098/news_archives/news_archive_2016/news_archive_2016_-_08/major_general_v._vaiksnoras_will_head_the_joint_staff_of_the_lithuanian_armed_forces.html |access-date=11 April 2021 |publisher=Ministry of National Defence, Republic of Lithuania}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 10

| image = Zenkevicius.jpg

| military_rank = Brigade general

| officeholder = Gintautas Zenkevičius

| officeholder_sort = Zenkevicius

| born_year = 1962

| died_year = 2021

| term_start = 29 July 2019

| term_end = 25 September 2020

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2019|7|29|2020|09|24}}

| ref = {{cite web| url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/1081432/gynybos-stabo-virsininku-taps-zenkevicius-sausumos-pajegu-vadu-vaiksnoras |title=Gynybos štabo viršininku taps Zenkevičius, Sausumos pajėgų vadu – Vaikšnoras |first=Saulius |last=Jakučionis |publisher= LRT.lt |date=23 July 2019 |language=lt |access-date=11 April 2021 }}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 11

| image = Mindaugas Steponavičius.jpg

| military_rank = Major general

| officeholder = Mindaugas Steponavičius

| officeholder_sort = Steponavicius

| born_year = 1974

| died_year =

| term_start = 25 September 2020

| term_end = 8 August 2024

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2020|09|24|2024|08|24}}

| ref = {{cite web |first=Ignas |last=Jačauskas |title=Gynybos štabui vadovaus Mindaugas Steponavičius|url=https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/gynybos-stabui-vadovaus-mindaugas-steponavicius-56-1381968 |publisher=15min.lt |date=24 September 2020 |language=lt |access-date=11 April 2021}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 12

| image =

| military_rank = Lieutenant general

| officeholder = Remigijus Baltrėnas

| officeholder_sort = Baltrėnas

| born_year = 1974

| died_year =

| term_start = 8 August 2024

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2024|08|24}}

| ref = https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/2344031/gynybos-stabo-virsininko-pareigas-pereme-generolas-majoras-baltrenas

}}

Notes

References

Category:Military of Lithuania

Category:Lists of Lithuanian military personnel

Category:Military chiefs of staff