# Tarmo Kõuts

Tarmo Kõuts (born 27 November 1953) is an Estonian politician and former Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces.
Kõuts graduated from Tallinn Maritime School in 1973 and from Kaliningrad Technical Institute in 1985. From 1973 to 1990 he worked in various positions in the Estonian Shipping Company. He served as the rector of Estonian Maritime Academy from 1990 to 1993 and as the director-general of Estonian Border Guard from 1993 to 2000.
In September 2000 Rear Admiral Kõuts was appointed commander of the Estonian Defence Forces. Having been promoted to the rank of vice admiral in 2002, Kõuts retained the position until 2006, when he stepped down to move into politics. He joined the right-wing Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica and successfully ran for a seat in the parliament in the 2007 elections.

## Effective dates of promotion
### Estonian Army

    See Military ranks of Estonia
Promotions :
| Rank | Date |
| Captain (Navy) (Mereväekapten) | 30 December 1993 |
| Rear Admiral (Kontradmiral) | 19 June 1998 |
| Vice Admiral (Viitseadmiral) | 20 February 2002 |

## Awards, decorations, and recognition
### Awards and decorations

Estonian Awards and decorations :
| | 2nd Class of the Order of the National Coat of Arms | 2 February 2005 |
| | 2nd Class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle | 9 February 1998 |
| | White Cross of the Estonian Defence League (I class) | 2006 |
| | White Cross of the Estonian Defence League (III class) | |
| | Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence | |
| | Distinguished Service Decoration of the EDF | 23 February 1998 |
| | Memorial Medal "10 Years of the Re-Established Defence Forces" | |
| | Memorial Cross "Spearhead Admiral Pitka" | |
| | Border Guard Cross of Merit I Class | 27 October 1997 |
| | Golden Cross of the Rescue Board | |
| | Police Cross of Merit 2nd class | 2007 |
| | Memorial Medal 10 Years of the Re-Established Border Guard (I Class) | |
| | Women's Voluntary Defence Organization Cross of Lily | |
| | Cross of the Estonian Reserve Officers' Assembly (gold) | 6 May 2004 |
| | St. George's Night Great Star | 2007 |
| Foreign Awards |||
| | Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland | 2006 (Finland) |
| | 1st Class of the Order of Viesturs | 2005 (Latvia) |
| | Commander's Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas | 30 September 2004 (Lithuania) |
| | Knight Grand Cross of Order of Merit of the Italian Republic | 20 April 2004 (Italy) |
| | Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry | 29 May 2003 (Portugal) |
| | State of Maryland Distinguished Service Cross | (U.S.) |
| | Lithuanian Armed Forces Medal of Merit | (Lithuania) |
| | Latvian Army Medal of Merit I Class | (Latvia) |
| | Latvian Border Guard Cross of Merit II class | (Latvia) |
| | Latvian Border Guard 80 Anniversary Medal | (Latvia) |
| | Finland Border Guard Medal of Merit | (Finland) |
| | Grand Officer of the CISM Order of Merit | (International) |
| | Baltic Assembly Medal | (International) |
Badges :
| Estonian Border Guard badge | 23 February 1994 |
| The Order of Merit of Estonian Border Guard "Sword and Lynx" | 29 December 1993 |
| Order of Merit of Defense League unit in Tallinn |