# Minister for National Defence of Lithuania

The Minister of National Defence (Lithuanian: Krašto apsaugos ministras) is a member of the executive branch of the Government of Lithuania. The minister is responsible for overseeing the country's defence policies, military readiness, and national security strategies. The Minister leads the Ministry of National Defence in ensuring the protection of Lithuania's sovereignty, coordinating defence cooperation with international allies, and managing the country's defense resources and forces. The role also involves shaping defense-related legislation and fostering strategic initiatives to address evolving security challenges.
The incumbent is Dovilė Šakalienė, who has been serving as a minister since 12 December 2024.

## History

The first cabinet of ministers of the Republic of Lithuania was appointed on 11 November 1918, and the defence minister position was initially assumed by the Prime Minister Augustinas Voldemaras. On 24 December 1918, Lieutenant General Mykolas Velykis briefly served as the Minister of National Defence of Lithuania for just two days. On 26 December, he was replaced by Jonas Vileišis. The Ministry of National Defence and the ministerial post were abolished during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1991. Following Lithuania's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union on 11 March 1990, the Ministry was re-established.

## Departments and services

* Second Operational Services Department
* General Affairs Department of the Ministry of National Defence
* Centralized Finance and Property Service of the Ministry of National Defence
* General Jonas Žemaitis Lithuanian Military Academy
* Defence Resources Agency of the Ministry of National Defence
* Information Technology Service of the Ministry of National Defence
* Infrastructure Management Agency
* Key State Telecommunications Centre
* Mobilization and Civil Resistance Department of the Ministry of National Defence
* National Cyber Security Centre
* National Coordination Centre
* Vytautas the Great War Museum
* General Povilas Plechavičius Cadet Lyceum

## Leadership of the ministry

The leadership of the Ministry of National Defence (KAM) consists of the Minister of National Defence, Dovilė Šakalienė, Vice Ministers Karolis Aleksa, Tomas Godliauskas, and Orijana Mašalė, Chancellor of the Ministry Dainius Ivoškis, and the Director of Defence Policy Vaidotas Urbelis. Together, they oversee the operations, policies, and strategic direction of Lithuania's defense and security efforts.

## Ministers

| Term | Minister | Party | Cabinet | Office | Office | Office |
| Term | Minister | Party | Cabinet | Start date | End date | Time in office |
| 1 | Audrius Butkevičius (born 1960) | Independent | Vagnorius | 13 January 1991 | 21 July 1992 | 1 year, 190 days |
| 2 | Audrius Butkevičius (born 1960) | Independent | Abišala | 21 July 1992 | 17 December 1992 | 149 days |
| 3 | Audrius Butkevičius (born 1960) | Independent | Lubys | 17 December 1992 | 31 March 1993 | 104 days |
| 4 | Audrius Butkevičius (born 1960) | Independent | Šleževičius | 31 March 1993 | 28 October 1993 | 211 days |
| 5 | Linas Antanas Linkevičius (born 1961) | Democratic Labour Party | Šleževičius | 28 October 1993 | 19 March 1996 | 2 years, 143 days |
| 6 | Linas Antanas Linkevičius (born 1961) | Democratic Labour Party | Stankevičius | 19 March 1996 | 10 December 1996 | 266 days |
| 7 | Česlovas Vytautas Stankevičius (born 1937) | Homeland Union | Vagnorius | 10 December 1996 | 10 June 1999 | 2 years, 182 days |
| 8 | Česlovas Vytautas Stankevičius (born 1937) | Homeland Union | Paksas | 10 June 1999 | 11 November 1999 | 154 days |
| 9 | Česlovas Vytautas Stankevičius (born 1937) | Homeland Union | Kubilius | 11 November 1999 | 9 November 2000 | 364 days |
| 10 | Linas Antanas Linkevičius (born 1961) | Social Democratic Party | Paksas | 9 November 2000 | 12 July 2001 | 245 days |
| 11 | Linas Antanas Linkevičius (born 1961) | Social Democratic Party | Brazauskas | 12 July 2001 | 14 December 2004 | 3 years, 155 days |
| 12 | Gediminas Kirkilas (1951-2024) | Social Democratic Party | Brazauskas | 14 December 2004 | 18 July 2006 | 1 year, 216 days |
| 13 | Juozas Olekas (born 1955) | Social Democratic Party | Kirkilas | 18 July 2006 | 9 December 2008 | 2 years, 144 days |
| 14 | Rasa Juknevičienė (born 1958) | Homeland Union | Kubilius | 9 December 2008 | 13 December 2012 | 4 years, 4 days |
| 15 | Juozas Olekas (born 1955) | Social Democratic Party | Butkevičius | 13 December 2012 | 13 December 2016 | 4 years, 0 days |
| 16 | Raimundas Karoblis (born 1968) | Independent | Skvernelis | 13 December 2016 | 11 December 2020 | 3 years, 364 days |
| 17 | Arvydas Anušauskas (born 1963) | Homeland Union | Šimonytė | 11 December 2020 | 13 March 2024 | 3 years, 93 days |
| 18 | Laurynas Kasčiūnas (born 1982) | Homeland Union | Šimonytė | 13 March 2024 | 13 December 2024 | 273 days |
| 19 | Dovilė Šakalienė (born 1978) | Social Democratic Party of Lithuania | Paluckas | 13 December 2024 | Incumbent | 96 days |