Major General Andis Dilāns

Major General Andis Dilāns was born in Ilūkste, Latvia, on 27 September 1970.

MGen Dilāns entered the Latvian National Armed Forces as a cadet and graduated with distinction a platoon leader course in 1992.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in pedagogy from the National Defence Academy, Riga, Latvia, in 1995. He is a graduate of the Latvian University, Riga, Latvia, receiving the diploma of Manager of External Relations Division from the Institute of International Relations; he also graduated with distinction the Baltic Defence College, Tartu, Estonia as 2nd student of Class 2000; the National Defence University National War College in 2011 and holds master's degree in National Security Strategy Science from it.

MGen Dilāns’ command and troop leadership positions include: Deputy Chief of Defence and Chief of Joint Staff, Latvian National Armed Forces (LNAF). Before that, he served as Director of the Higher Command and Staff Course in the Baltic Defence College, Tartu, Estonia. Other commands include the 1st (LATBAT) Infantry Battalion, Latvian Infantry Brigade; the 1st Company, Baltic Peace Enforcement Battalion, during this assignment he leaded 1st Latvian Coy-size deployment to international operations, assuming Company Commander position of the IFOR - LAT/SWE Coy 2IC and S3 Planning Officer position of the SFOR - SWE Bn-Bosnia in1996/1997; and Course Leader/Company Commander in National Defence Academy. As a lieutenant, he was a Platoon Leader of the Border Guard’s Course in National Defence Academy.

MGen Dilāns’ staff positions include: Chief of Joint Staff, Latvian National Armed Forces, where he was co-chairing Latvian defence system reform group in 2009; Chief, Operations Planning (J3) Department, LNAF Staff, in this position he leaded a military planning group for first deployments of Latvian troops to Afghanistan and Iraq in 2003; Chief, Operation Brunch, Operations Planning (J3) Department, LNAF Staff; Chief, Military Co-operation Brunch, International Relation and Military Co-operation (J7) Department, LNAF Staff; and Senior Staff Officer, Combat Support Brunch, Operations Planning (J3) Department, LNAF Staff.

MGen Dilāns’ leader development and education positions include: Deputy Course Director and previously Course Instructor of the Higher Command and Staff Course in the Baltic Defence College, where he gave remarkable contribution to an establishment and further build-up of the Higher Command and Staff Course, which later had been accredited by NATO ACT.

MGen Dilāns’ awards and decorations include: the Order of Viesturs (2nd grade), the CHOD Award of Merit (3 awards), the CHOD Award for Distinctive Service, the Republic of Latvia MOD Medal of Honorary Recognition and Medal of Merit for Contribution to Armed Forces Development, the Estonian Defence Force General Staff Cross of Merit (2 awards), the Lithuanian Defence Force Medal of Merit, Baltic Defence College Medal of Merit, Baltic Defence College Service Cross, LNAF International Operation Remembrance Medal, NATO Medal, Swedish Armed Forces’ International Operation Remembrance Medal.

Effective dates of promotions:
11 August 2014 -  Major General
4 November 2009 - Brigadier General
12 December 2005 - Colonel
12 November 2001 - Lieutenant Colonel
26 November 1997 - Major
28 October 1994 - Captain
1 October 1992 - Lieutenant

Education:
2011 Master's degree in National Security Strategy Science, International Fellow Program, National Defence University, Washington D.C., USA;
2004 Higher Command and Staff Course, Baltic Defence College, Tartu, Estonia;
2001 Diploma of the Manager of External Relations Division, Institute of International Relations, Latvian University, Riga, Latvia;
2000 graduated with distinction (2nd student in Class 2000), Joint Command and General Staff Course, Baltic Defence College, Tartu, Estonia;
1995 Bachelor’s degree in pedagogy, National Defence Academy, Riga, Latvia;
1992 graduated with distinction, Platoon Leader Course, National Defence Academy, Riga, Latvia.

MGen Dilāns is married to Inga and has a son Ralfs. His hobbies include tennis and outdoor activities.