Major General  Andrus Merilo

Major General Andrus Merilo was born on 2 June 1973. He started his military service in 1992 as a conscript in the Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion. He continued his service in the Estonian Infantry Company of the Baltic Battalion. Major General Merilo has served in numerous positions in the Defence Forces, including the Chief of Operations Department of the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces, Chief of Administration for the Chief of Defence, Commander of the Scouts Battalion and Commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade.

Major General Merilo’s military education includes studies in the Finnish National Defence University, Command and General Staff College and Army War College in the US.

Major General Merilo has been deployed to Lebanon, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.

He has been awarded the Order of the Cross of the Eagle (V Class), the Estonian Defence Forces Meritorious Service Cross, the Estonian Defence Forces Distinguished Service Decoration, Officer of the Year Award and numerous other awards.

Major General Merilo speaks Estonian, English, Finnish and Russian.