Yevgeny Shaposhnikov

Yevgeny Ivanovich Shaposhnikov (Евгений Иванович Шапошников; born 3 February 1942) is a Russian military leader and business figure, Marshal of Aviation (1991).

Early years
Shaposhnikov was born on a farm near Aksay in Rostov Oblast Russia. He graduated from the Kharkov Higher Military Aviation School in 1963 and the Gagarin Air Force Academy in 1969.

Military career
Shaposhnikov joined the Soviet Air Force and rose through the ranks. In 1987-1988, Yevgeny Shaposhnikov was the air force commander of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (16th Air Army?). In July 1990, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Soviet Air Force.

Soviet Union
In August - December 1991, Yevgeny Shaposhnikov held the post of Minister of Defence of Soviet Union (and thus the last Soviet Defence Minister).

Commonwealth of Independent States/Russian Federation
In 1992 - 1993, he was commander-in-chief of the CIS Armed Forces. In June - September 1993, Yevgeny Shaposhnikov held the post of the secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

Business career
In January 1994, he became a representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the main arms-exporting company Rosvooruzhenie, in November 1995 - March 1997 he was the CEO (General Director) of Aeroflot airline company. He has been employed as an adviser of the President of the Russian Federation on matters of aviation and space exploration since March 1997.