New Commander Appointed to TRNC Security Forces

A new commander has been appointed to the Security Forces of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The appointments and transfers of 187 generals and admirals serving in the Turkish Armed Forces’ Army, Navy, and Air Force commands were announced in the "Official Gazette."

According to the announcement, Major General İlker Gergülü, Director of the Land Warfare Institute, has been appointed as the new commander of the TRNC Security Forces.

Major General Osman Aytac, who previously held this position, has been reassigned to serve as the head of the Inspection and Evaluation Command of the Land Forces.

In total, the decisions signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan include the appointment of 117 generals within the Land Forces Command. The decree also replaces three army commanders and four army commands.

Background:

İlker Gergülü was born in İskilip/Çorum in 1973. He completed his primary and secondary education in Ankara. After attending İshıklar Military School (Bursa) from 1987 to 1991 and the Military Academy (Ankara) from 1991 to 1995, he was commissioned as a tank lieutenant in 1995.

In 2020, he served as the Commander of the General Staff’s Counter-Terrorism Command and, from 2020 to 2021, as the Secretary General of the Turkish Armed Forces.

By presidential decree on August 24, 2021, he was appointed Director of the Land Warfare Institute.

He holds a master’s degree in International Relations from Beykent University (2007), completed Staff Officer training (KARSU) from 2018 to 2019, and Command and Staff College training from 2019 to 2020.

Brigadier General İlker Gergülü is married, has one child, and speaks English.