Ari Puheloinen
Encyclopedia
Ari Tapani Puheloinen is a Finnish
General
and Chief of Defence
of the Finnish Defence Forces
.
Ari Puheloinen was born in Taipalsaari as the second son of the family of an electrician
and a cleaner. Such working-class background is unusual for high-ranking Finnish officers, who usually come from middle-class or military families. For example, the fathers of the four preceding Finnish Chiefs of Defence have been either colonels, admirals, or generals. Later, the family moved from Savonia
to Luumäki
. Puheloinen's civilian education was accomplished in Taavetin lukio, where he graduated from in 1970.
After leaving secondary school, Puheloinen began his military career as a conscript
in the Uudenmaan rakuunapataljoona in Lappeenranta
, where he was trained as a reserve officer. After the statutory service period, he entered the military officer-training institution Kadettikoulu, although he had been admitted to both Helsinki School of Economics
and University of Tampere
. In 1974, Puheloinen graduated as a lieutenant and started service as a regular officer in the Armoured Brigade
. In 1978, Puheloinen was selected to participate with three other Finnish officers in the five-month "Tactical Commander Course of Motorized Infantry Troops" in Soviet Union
. Shortly thereafter, Puheloinen entered the Finnish Sotakorkeakoulu, the command college, which he graduated in 1983. After the command college, Puheloinen served for three years as an intelligence officer in the Finnish Defence Staff, specializing in eastern affairs. This was followed by a tour of duty as an assistant military attaché
in Moscow at the end of the cold war, until 1990.
Puheloinen returned to Finland in 1990 and was selected to command a battallion in the Armoured Brigade in 1993, as his first command assignment. In 1995, Puheloinen served a tour of duty in the OSCE headquarters, and then returned to Finnish Defence Staff to work on starting the Finnish cooperation with NATO. This was followed by a study period as a Fellow at Harvard University
. In 1999, Puheloinen assumed the command of Armoured Brigade. After 2000, Puheloinen worked for three years as the Readiness Chief of the Defence Staff and from 2004 to 2007 as the commander of the Finnish Eastern Command , a regional command entity responsible for the Defence of Eastern Finland. During this time, he was also responsible for the reorganization of the Finnish Army. Since 2007, Puheloinen has been the Chief of Defence Staff, the second-in-command of the Defence Forces. At the same time, he married a career officer, 1st lieutenant Tiina Laisi-Puheloinen, his second wife.
The selection of Puheloinen as the next Finnish Chief of Defence was announced on 23 January 2009. He succeeded Admiral
Juhani Kaskeala
on 1 August 2009.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and Chief of Defence
Chief of Defence (Finland)
The Chief of Defence is the Chief of Defence and commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, under the authority of the Commander in Chief, President of Finland. He commands the Finnish Army, the Finnish Air Force, the Finnish Navy and is assisted by the Defence Command...
of the Finnish Defence Forces
Finnish Defence Forces
The Finnish Defence Forces are responsible for the defence of Finland. It is a cadre army of 15,000, of which 8,900 are professional soldiers , extended with conscripts and reservists such that the standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform...
.
Ari Puheloinen was born in Taipalsaari as the second son of the family of an electrician
Electrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
and a cleaner. Such working-class background is unusual for high-ranking Finnish officers, who usually come from middle-class or military families. For example, the fathers of the four preceding Finnish Chiefs of Defence have been either colonels, admirals, or generals. Later, the family moved from Savonia
Savonia (historical province)
Savonia is a historical province in the east of Finland. It borders to Uusimaa, Tavastia, Ostrobothnia, and Karelia. Largest cities in Savo by population are Kuopio, Mikkeli, Savonlinna and Varkaus.-Administration:...
to Luumäki
Luumäki
Luumäki is a municipality of Finland. Its seat is in Taavetti.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the South Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
. Puheloinen's civilian education was accomplished in Taavetin lukio, where he graduated from in 1970.
After leaving secondary school, Puheloinen began his military career as a conscript
Conscription in Finland
Conscription in Finland is part of a wider, general "national defense duty" defined in the 127§ of the Constitution of Finland.Conscription can take the form of military or of civilian service. Currently, c.66% of males reaching military age do their military service, while a growing number of ...
in the Uudenmaan rakuunapataljoona in Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta is a city and municipality that resides on the shore of the lake Saimaa in South-Eastern Finland, about from the Russian border. It belongs to the region of South Karelia. With approximately inhabitants Lappeenranta is the largest city in Finland...
, where he was trained as a reserve officer. After the statutory service period, he entered the military officer-training institution Kadettikoulu, although he had been admitted to both Helsinki School of Economics
Helsinki School of Economics
The Aalto University School of Economics , known as Helsinki School of Economics until 2009, is the largest and leading business school in Finland and one of the most renowned in Europe...
and University of Tampere
University of Tampere
The University of Tampere is a university in Tampere, Finland. It has 15,400 degree students and 2,100 employees. It was originally founded in 1925 in Helsinki as a Civic College , and from 1930 onwards it was known as a School of Social Sciences...
. In 1974, Puheloinen graduated as a lieutenant and started service as a regular officer in the Armoured Brigade
Armoured Brigade (Finnish Army)
The Armoured Brigade is a Finnish Army training unit located in Parolannummi, near Hämeenlinna, in southern Finland. The brigade specialises in training armoured and anti-aircraft troops. In case of mobilization, the Finnish Defence Forces would field one armoured brigade...
. In 1978, Puheloinen was selected to participate with three other Finnish officers in the five-month "Tactical Commander Course of Motorized Infantry Troops" in Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Shortly thereafter, Puheloinen entered the Finnish Sotakorkeakoulu, the command college, which he graduated in 1983. After the command college, Puheloinen served for three years as an intelligence officer in the Finnish Defence Staff, specializing in eastern affairs. This was followed by a tour of duty as an assistant military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
in Moscow at the end of the cold war, until 1990.
Puheloinen returned to Finland in 1990 and was selected to command a battallion in the Armoured Brigade in 1993, as his first command assignment. In 1995, Puheloinen served a tour of duty in the OSCE headquarters, and then returned to Finnish Defence Staff to work on starting the Finnish cooperation with NATO. This was followed by a study period as a Fellow at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. In 1999, Puheloinen assumed the command of Armoured Brigade. After 2000, Puheloinen worked for three years as the Readiness Chief of the Defence Staff and from 2004 to 2007 as the commander of the Finnish Eastern Command , a regional command entity responsible for the Defence of Eastern Finland. During this time, he was also responsible for the reorganization of the Finnish Army. Since 2007, Puheloinen has been the Chief of Defence Staff, the second-in-command of the Defence Forces. At the same time, he married a career officer, 1st lieutenant Tiina Laisi-Puheloinen, his second wife.
The selection of Puheloinen as the next Finnish Chief of Defence was announced on 23 January 2009. He succeeded Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Juhani Kaskeala
Juhani Kaskeala
Admiral Pauli Juhani Kaskeala is a senior Finnish admiral and was Chief of Defence of the Finnish Defence Forces from 2001 to August 1, 2009....
on 1 August 2009.