Riho Terras

Lieutenant general (Kindralleitnant) Riho Terras, (born 17 April 1967) in Kohtla-Järve in Ida-Viru County, is Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces. Lieutenant general Terras previously served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces. He was appointed the Commander-in-Chief on 5 December 2011 and was promoted to Lieutenant general in 2015.

Military career
His military education includes studies in the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom, the Joint Command and General Staff Course in the Baltic Defence College, the European Security. Policy Course in the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, a Battalion Commander's Course in Switzerland, a Company Commander's course in Germany, a Company Commander's course in Sweden and the Officer's Basic course in Estonia. Terras's civilian education includes history studies in the University of Tartu, and a master's degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Bundeswehr.

After graduating from the Basic Officer's Course in Estonia, Terras served as a Company Commander and as a Battalion Second in Command of the Kalev Single Infantry Battalion from 1992 to 1993. Between 1993 and 1994 Terras served as the commander of the Põhja Single Infantry Company. After graduating from the Bundeswehr University (Germany) he served as the commander of the Guard Battalion from 1998 to 2000. Terras was appointed the Chief of Staff of the Defence League Headquarters in 2000. From 2001 to 2004 he served as the Estonian Defence Attaché in Germany and Poland. Between 2005 and 2008 Terras served as the Chief of the Analysis and Planning Department and as Chief of the Planning Section, Analysis and Planning Department in the Estonian Defence Forces Headquarters. In 2007, Terras served in the NATO Training Mission - Iraq as Deputy Chief of Staff. Riho Terras was confirmed on December 2008 as Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defence. Before taking up the position of the Permanent Secretary, he was Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in the Estonian Defence Forces. Terras served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Estonian Defence forces from January 2011 to March 2011 and then continued his service as the Chief of Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces. Terras was appointed the Chief of Defence from December 5, 2011.

Education

 * 1989-1993, University of Tartu, History studies, Tartu, Estonia
 * 1991-1992, Officer's Basic course, Tallinn, Estonia
 * 1993, Company Commander's course, Sweden
 * 1996, Company Commander's course, Germany
 * 1994-1998, University of Bundeswehr, master's degree in Political Science and Sociology, Munich, Germany
 * 1999, Battalion Commander's Course, Switzerland
 * 2000, Estonian National Defence Course, Tartu, Estonia
 * 2000, Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Policy Course, Geneva, Switzerland
 * 2005, Baltic Defence College, Joint Command and General Staff Course, Tartu, Estonia
 * 2010, Royal College of Defence Studies, London, United Kingdom

Personal
In addition to the Estonian language Terras is fluent in English, German and Russian. He is married with two sons. His hobbies include opera, medieval history and hunting.