Dimitrios Grapsas


Dimitrios Grapsas is a Greek military officer, who served as the Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff from August 2007 to August 2009.

Biography

General Grapsas was born in 1948 in Ypati in the Phthiotis prefecture. He was admitted to the Hellenic Military Academy in 1967, from which he graduated in 1971 as a Second Lieutenant.
In the following years he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel. During that time he served successively in the following units and formations:
He attained the rank of Brigadier General in 1999 and received command of the XXV Armored Brigade. Following that, he served as Chief of Staff in D' Army Corps, and as a Director of the Training Division of the HAGS. In 2002, he was appointed as the director of the Training and Doctrine Staff Directorate of the HAGS. In 2003, having been promoted to Major General, he received command of the 12th Mechanized Infantry Division. In 2004, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and was assigned as B' Deputy Chief of the HAGS. In 2005, he became Commander of the Higher Military Command of the Interior and the Islands and held the post until his appointment to Chief of Staff of the Hellenic Army General Staff on 28 February 2006. In August 2007 he was assigned Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff after the resignation of Panagiotis Chinofotis and promoted to General. He held this post until 6 August 2009, when he was replaced by Air Chief Marshal Ioannis Giagkos.

Medals & Decorations

General Grapsas has been decorated with the following distinctions: the Grand Cross of the Order of The Phoenix, the Grand Commander of the Order of Honour, Medal of Military Merit 1st Class, Chief of General Staff Commendation Medal, Chief of the Army Commendation Medal, Commendation Star of Merit and Honour, Commendation Medal of Merit and Honour, Major Unit Command Commendation Medal 1st Class, Staff Officer Service Commendation Medal 1st Class. Additionally he was awarded the United States Of America Medal of the Commander of the Legion of Merit.