The Council of Ministers in today's session decided on the appointment of Major General Neophytos Pahoulides to the position of Deputy Chief of the National Guard, who will replace Lieutenant General Loukas Hatzimikhail, whose term of office ends on August 31.
The confirmation ceremony of the new Deputy Leader will take place on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at the Presidential Palace.
The new Deputy Chief will officially assume his duties on September 1, 2024.
Curriculum vitae of the new Deputy Chief
Born in Nicosia in 1967, Major General Neophytos Pahoulides was admitted in 1985 to the Evelpidon Military School, from which he graduated in 1989, as a Second Lieutenant of Cavalry - Armored, 1st among the Greek Cypriot officers.
He studied with distinction at all Armored Schools in Greece, as well as at the Cavalry - Armored School of France (École d'application de l'armée blindée et cavalerie, Saumur).
He also graduated from the Staff College and the High War College of Greece, as well as the French War College (Collège interarmées de Défense). Additionally, he is a graduate of the Orientation and High Level Courses (European Security and Defense College/ESDC) and the Senior Strategic Leadership Program of the UK Defense Academy.
He served in Expeditionary Units as a Field Marshal and Commander of Ili Media Tanks (1990-1999), as well as Operations - Intelligence Officer and Deputy Commander (between 1999 – 2004). He also served, for 5 years, as Commander of the AMX-30B2 and T-80U Medium Tank Battalion (2005 – 2006 and 2007 – 2011).
Between the years 2011-2016, he served as Director of the 3rd EG Brigade and Head of Plans of the GEEF, working at the same time on matters of reorganization of the E.F. At the same time, he attended the School of National Defense through e-learning, from which he graduated with honors, broadening his field of knowledge in matters of military diplomacy and strategic studies.
In the next 3 years (2016 – 19), he was appointed as the Military Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union (EU), in a period of intense activity gaining important experiences, both in the deepening of the defense effort in the EU itself. (EU Global Strategy, PESCO, CARD, etc.), as well as in the expansion of EU-NATO relations.
In 2019, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and assigned as Deputy Commander in the 20th Armored Brigade (XX TTHT). In March 2021, he assumed the duties of the Director of the XNUMXth Branch of the General Directorate of Defense - Responsible for Defense Planning, Organization, Doctrines, Evolution and International Relations.
In March 2022 he was promoted to Brigadier General and assumed the duties of Commander of the 20th Armored Brigade. Subsequently, in April 2023, he was promoted to Major General, and was assigned the duties of Inspector General of the E.F.
He holds a Master of Arts in International Relations (University of Nicosia) and a Master's degree in History/Études européennes, méditerranéennes et asiatiques (EPHE University/École Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris).
He speaks English and French fluently. He has been awarded all the prescribed moral emoluments, as well as additional ones, at various stages of his administration or service as an Executive.
He is married and the father of 2 grown children.