General Drago Lovrić

In August 1991, at the beginning of the Homeland War in Croatia, he joined the Croatian Armed Forces. He was appointed Staff Officer in Zagreb Operational Zone and Zagreb Area Command, and subsequently commanded Tactical Group and Air Defense Brigade. He was next appointed Chief of Staff of Gospić Area Command. In February 1995, he became Deputy Commander of Gospić Area Command and in 1998 he was appointed Commander of the 1st Area Command.

In October 1999, GEN Lovrić became Deputy Head of Operations Directorate of the Croatian Armed Forces General Staff. From October 2000 to February 2007 he was Head of Operations Directorate in the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces. From September 2007 to February 2011 he was the Croatian Military Representative to NATO and EU.

On March 1, 2011, he was appointed Chief of General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces.

General Drago Lovrić holds titles of Master of Science in International Relations, obtained at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Zagreb, and Master of Science in the field of National Resource Strategy, from the Industrial College of Armed Forces of the U.S. National Defense University in Washington, which he attended from May 2003 to November 2004. In July 2012, he earned his doctorate in the field of National Security.

Having graduated from the Army Academy as a Second Lieutenant, he was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1984, and to Captain in 1987. After joining the Croatian Armed Forces, he was promoted to Major in 1992, to Lieutenant Colonel in 1993 and to Colonel in 1995. In 1996, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Brigadier and Brigadier General in 2000. In 2005, he was promoted to Major General, in 2011 he was promoted to Lieutenant General and in 2013 to General.

He has been decorated with numerous high Croatian military decorations: Homeland War Commemorative Decoration, Homeland War Commemorative Decoration for 5 and 10 years of distinguished service, Order of the Croatian Braid, Order of the Croatian Trefoil, Order of the Croatian Cross, Order of Ban Josip Jelačić, Order of Duke Domagoj with Neck Ribbon and Order of Duke Branimir with necklace. He has also received a Medal for Participation in Operation “Storm” and a Medal for Daring Feat.

On February 18, 2013, he was decorated with the Legion of Merit of the United States of America, awarded by the President of the United States of America for his achievements, special efforts and supreme performance of his duties.

He is married and father of two children.