Czesław Piątas Gen . Czesław Piątas ( born March 20 , 1946 ) is a Polish general , former Chief of General Staff of the Polish Army . He is one of the authors of the plan of modernisation of the Polish armed forces and one of the architects of its integration with the structures of NATO . Biography . Czesław Piątas was born in Hausach , Germany . In September 1965 he joined the Polish Army and the Armour Officer ’ s School in Poznań . After he graduated in 1968 , he was promoted to the rank of ensign ( " podporucznik " ) and assigned to the 8th Tank Regiment of Żagań - based Polish 11th Armoured Division as a tank platoon commander . In 1971 he was promoted to first lieutenant ( " porucznik " ) and the following year he assumed command over a company of tanks in the same regiment . For the good effects of his work on the post of a tank commander , in 1974 Piątas was sent to Moscow , where he joined the " Kliment Voroshilov Academy of Tank Troops " . One of the best students at his course , in 1975 he was promoted to captain . In 1977 he graduated and was instantly assigned to the staff of the 11th Armoured Division , where he accomplished his probation . In 1978 he became the chief of staff and deputy commanding officer of the 3rd Tank Regiment of the 11th Division . The following year Piątas was promoted to major . In 1980 he joined the 10th Tank Regiment of the Polish 10th Armoured Division , of which he also was the chief of staff . The unit under his command won many military awards , including the title of a " leading unit of the Silesian Military District " , which won Piątas a promotion to the rank of lieutenant - colonel in 1982 . The following year he became the chief of staff and deputy commanding officer of the Opole - based 10th Armoured Division . He served on that post until 1986 , when he was promoted to colonel and yet again sent to Moscow for training . There he joined the Academy of General Staff of the USSR . He graduated in 1982 and was assigned to the Headquarters of the Silesian Military Area , and in 1986 was given the command of Polish 4th Mechanised Division . Upon his return in 1988 , Piątas settled in Wrocław , where he became the Chief of Operations and the deputy commander of the Silesian Military District . In 1991 he left that post and became the commander of the Polish 4th Armoured Division dislocated in Krosno Odrzańskie . Yet again he distinguished himself as a brilliant organizer and in 1992 his division received the title of " The Leading Unit of the Polish Army " - the highest peace - time award a tactical unit can achieve . The same year he was promoted by president Lech Wałęsa to the rank of brigadier general ( " generał brygady " ) and in 1993 he returned to the headquarters of the Silesian Military District , where he resumed his previous post of Chief of Operations and deputy commander . In 1996 he was moved to Warsaw , where he assumed the post of chief of staff of the Warsaw Military District . However , only in January 1997 he left that post and was assigned to the General Staff of the Polish Army as the Chief of Operational and Strategic Command . As such he was one of the Polish officers who took part in the Polish - NATO accession talks in 1997 - 1998 . After that he travelled to United States . There he settled in Washington , D . C and joined the National War College . He graduated in 1999 and returned to Warsaw , where he became the deputy Chief of General Staff of the Polish Army . On August 15 , 1999 , he was promoted by president Aleksander Kwaśniewski to major general ( " generał dywizji " ) . On September 28 , 2000 , Piątas became the Chief of General Staff and was promoted to lieutenant general ( " generał broni " ) . On August 15 , 2002 , Piątas was promoted to the newly created rank of general ( " generał " ) . On September 25 , 2003 , he was reappointed to another three - year term as Chief of General Staff . However , he has retired from the active service already in January 2006 . In January 2008 , he become Deputy Minister of Defense in Donald Tusk ' s government . General Czesław Piątas is married to Danuta . They have two children . He is interested in military history and tennis ; speaks fluently Polish , Russian and English .