Hellenic Military Academy
Born in Petroporos, Trikala Prefecture, he graduated from the Hellenic Military Academy in 1979 as an Infantry 2nd Lieutenant. He followed a career in the Hellenic Army's special forces, commanding the Special Forces Training Centre in 2004–06. He went on to command the Hellenic Military Academy in 2006–07, the 7th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in 2007–08, the Army NCO Academy in 2008–10, the 12th Mechanized Infantry Division in 2010–11 and the IV Army Corps in 2011–13. He was appointed Chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff on 9 March 2013.