Evangelos Apostolakis was born in Rethymno, Crete on 14th of May 1957. He joined the Hellenic Naval Academy in 1976, graduated and was commissioned as Ensign of the Hellenic Navy in July 1980. He has completed the Underwater Demolitions Team School of the Hellenic Navy, and he is a graduate of the Advanced Mine Warfare School (Belgium) and the Amphibious Warfare School (U.S.A.) as well as the Hellenic Naval War College. As a junior officer, his sea duty assignments, include various tours. He served mainly on Destroyers and Amphibious ships as Communications, Navigations and Operations Officer. He served as the Commanding Officer of MSC HS ATALANTI, MSC HS KISSA and FFGH HS NAVARINON. His shore and staff assignments as senior Officer include service as Deputy Commander of Underwater Demolition Command, Commander of Underwater Demolition Command, Adjutant of the Minister of National Defence, Director of Administration of Souda Naval Base, Chief of Staff of Senior Naval Command Aegean, and Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) STRIKEFORNATO Naples IT. As o Commodore he assumed duties of Director of HNGS B’ Branch. As o Rear Admiral he was assigned Deputy Chief of Fleet (H.R) and Chief of Staff of the HNDGS. As a Vice Admiral he served as Deputy Chief of HNDGS. On March 7th, 2013, upon decision of the Governmental Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence, he assumed the duties of Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff. In 2015 he assumed the duties of Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff and was promoted to Admiral. On January 14th, 2019, he was retired, awarded the title of Honorable Chief of Defence, and assumed the duties of Minister of National Defence. He is a Member of the Hellenic Parliament of State and a Member of the Standing Committee of National Defence and Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Parliament. He has been awarded with all the medals, decorations and commendations stipulated for an officer of his rank and seniority. He is married and has two children.

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