He was born in Spătaru, a village in Costești commune, Buzău County, and attended the Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu High School in the county capital, Buzău. In 1957 he enrolled in the military school for officers in Pitești. He graduated in 1960 first in his class and was promoted to lieutenant, advancing in rank to senior lieutenant in 1963 and captain in 1965. During that period, he joined in 1962 the Romanian Communist Party (PCR, at the time, PMR). From 1966 he attended the Military Technical Academy in Bucharest, advancing to major in 1971, and graduating with an engineering degree in 1972. In September of that year, he was appointed commander of the 6th "Ion Buteanu" Tank Regiment, within the Romanian 3rd Army. Promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1974, he held this command until August 1976, when he was named chief of staff of the 6th "Horia, Cloșca and Crișan" Tank Division. After   becoming colonel in 1979, he took command of the division in 1981, and advanced to major general in 1984. On September 25, 1986, he was promoted to the position of First Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chief of the Romanian General Staff.