Arvydas Pocius Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius ( born 14 May 1957 ) is the current Chief of Defence of Lithuania . During his military career , Pocius has held various positions , including Chief of Staff of Voluntary Service of National Defence , and Commander of the Lithuanian Land Force . Pocius was Lithuanian champion of freestyle wrestling in junior , youth and adult groups . Early years . Pocius was born on 14 May 1957 in port city Klaipėda , Lithuania . In 1971 as a schoolboy he entered a free - style wrestling section and later became Lithuanian champion in junior , youth and adult groups . In 1975 Pocius graduated from high school and started studies in Physical Education Academy . During the studies he actively participated in sports , especially in judo , Sambo and free - style wrestling . Pocius achieved the name of Honored Master of Sports of USSR ( according to Sports Classification System of Soviet Union ) in judo and free - style wrestling . In 1979 he graduated from the Academy and worked as a coach of free - style wrestling , later judo . Military career . In 1979 after graduation from reserve officer course in Kaliningrad District , USSR , he gained Soviet Army ( SA ) Mechanized infantry platoon leader qualification and was commissioned to the rank of lieutenant ( Reserve ) . In 1988 while working in Lithuanian Physical Culture and Sports Committee as chief coach of judo and Sambo , Pocius joined Freedom Movement “ Sąjūdis ” as a security guard in so called Green Armlet Group . He guarded leaders of “ Sąjūdis ” and ensured order during Freedom Movement demonstrations . On 16 February 1990 during the protest demonstration at the Supreme Council he officially resigned the rank of SA reserve officer and military oath . For this reason by the order of the defense minister of the USSR was down - graded to private ( Reserve ) . On 11 January 1991 Pocius swore an oath to the Republic of Lithuania in the Reconstituent Parliament . As a soldier - volunteer he defended Parliament of Lithuania during dramatic acts of Soviet aggression that caused deaths of Lithuanian people and serviceman in January and August 1991 . In March 1991 he joined Voluntary Service of National Defence . On 30 December 1991 as Deputy Chief of Staff of Voluntary Service of National Defence Pocius was promoted to the rank of Major ( Lithuanian Army ) . In 1993 Pocius was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel . In 1994 Pocius was assigned as a Commander of Voluntary Service of National Defence . Pocius joined Command and General Staff Course , Bundeswehr Command Academy ( Germany ) in 1996 . After graduation he was promoted to the rank of colonel and took over a position of Commander of National Defence Volunteer Service in 1998 . Pocius was assigned to Command the Military District - East of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in 2002 . In 2003 - 2004 Pocius studied at US Army War College and completed the course of strategic studies . On 30 June 2004 Arvydas Pocius was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and was assigned as a Commander of the Lithuanian Land Forces . In June 2007 Pocius graduated from Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Science and gained Master ’ s degree in Political Science . In autumn of the same year Pocius was assigned as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff ( DACOS ) of the Joint Education and Training Sub - Division at the NATO HQ Allied Command Transformation . On 24 July 2009 Pocius was assigned as Chief of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania and was promoted to the rank of Major General . On 28 July 2011 Pocius was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General . Pocius during 20 years of service in the Lithuanian Armed Forces was awarded Order of the Cross of Vytis , Medal of January 13 , Medal of the Founders Volunteers of the Lithuanian Armed Forces , Commemorative Badge of Russian Army withdrawal from Lithuania , Medal of Merit of National Defence System , etc . Pocius is married to Namida , has a son Tadas and a daughter Akvilė . He is fond of fishing , hunting and sports ; he is also interested in the history of Lithuanian warfare .