Bülent Bostanoğlu

Recep Bülent Bostanoğlu (born 10 November 1953) is a Turkish Navy admiral currently serving as the 25th Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces. He previously served as the vice admiral of the Turkish Naval Forces from 2009 untill 2010. He assumed his current assignment on August 23, 2013.

Early life and education
Admiral Bostanoğlu was born in Karadeniz Ereğli a suburb of Zonguldak, in 1953. He graduated from the Naval High School in 1970 and the Naval Academy in 1973.

Naval Career
After completing his Fundamental Officers Training he began to serve as the Communications Officer onboard TCG Tınaztepe. During his sea tour from 1975 to 1980 he assumed a variety of duties, respectively as the Division Officer and Department Head, onboard the patrol boat TCG Sultanhisar and the destroyers TCG Tınaztepe, TCG Berk and TCG Adatepe. Graduating from the Turkish Naval War College in 1982, he served onboard TCG Anıttepe as the Navigation and Operations Officer.

From 1983 to 1989, he was assigned as the NATO Exercise Planning Officer in Turkish Navy Headquarters and graduated from the Turkish Armed Forces College in 1989. From 1989 to 1991, Admiral Bostanoğlu served as the Executive Officer onboard the destroyer TCG Savaştepe. During this period, he graduated from the US Naval War College in 1990. He then commanded the destroyer TCG Savaştepe from 1991-1993 and the frigate TCG Muavenet from 1993-1994.

After his sea tour, he was assigned as Branch Head of Plans & Organization Division in the Turkish Fleet Headquarters from 1994 to 1995. In 1995, he was appointed to Athens/Greece for 3 years as the Naval Attaché. Before his promotion to the flag ranks, he commanded Destroyer Division Four from 1998 to 1999 and served as Chief of Naval Operations in the Turkish Fleet Headquarters untill 2000.

High command
After being promoted to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) in 2000, he served in Plans & Policy Directorate in the Turkish General Staff Headquarters. Admiral Bostanoğlu commanded the Turkish Escort and Patrol Boats Flotilla from 2002 to 2003 and assumed his duty as the commander of Southern Task Group in 2003. Having been promoted to Rear Admiral (Upper Half) in 2004, he served as the Commander of Turkish Naval War College till 2005, Chief of Naval Operations at the Turkish Navy Headquarters from 2005-2007, Commander of the Surface Action Group & Northern Task Group till 2008 and Chief of Staff of the Fleet Command from 2008 to 2009.

Upon his promotion to Vice Admiral in 2009, he assumed Chief of Communications, Electronics & Information Systems Directorate in the Turkish General Staff Headquarters from 2009 to 2010. He subsequently commanded Naval Training and Education Command until August 2011 and Northern Sea Area Command from August 2011 to January 2013. He was assigned to the Turkish Fleet as the Commander in January 2013.

Admiral Bostanoğlu promoted to the rank of Admiral in 2013, and was assigned as the 25th Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces on 23 August 2013. His decoration includes Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Distinguished Service and NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia.

Personal life
Admiral Bostanoğlu is married and has a son named Mert Bostanoğlu.