Major General Ioannis Karamanis
Major General Ioannis Karamanis is the Commander of the Hellenic Air Force Academy (HAFA).
He is responsible for providing the Hellenic Air Force with Officers, with appropriate training and education to meet her needs, to produce knowledge and promote research on aviation and aerospace science and technology, as well as to support her operational work with the means and personnel at his disposal.
He was born in Hockenheim, Germany.
Education
He joined the Hellenic Air Force Academy in 1988 and graduated in 1992, as a 2nd Lieutenant.
He graduated from:
- National Defence College
- Supreme Joint War College
- Air Force Command and Staff Course
- Test Pilots Seminar
- Water Survival School
- Air-to-Ground Operations School
He speaks English.
Assignments
- January 2026: Commander of the HAFA
- April 2024 – January 2026: Director of the Hellenic Air Force General Staff of Defence Planning, Defence policy and Acquisitions Directorate
- August 2023 – April 2024: Commander of 117 Combat Wing (CW)
- June 2020 – July 2023: Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Greece in Rome (Italy)
- April 2018 – June 2020: Director of Operations – Training Directorate at 117CW
- July 2014 – April 2018: Director at the Hellenic Air Force Deputy Chief’s Executive Office
- September 2013 – July 2014: Supreme Joint War College
- August 2012 – September 2013: Commander of 117CW’s Operational Conversion Unit
- July 2011 – August 2012: Operations Officer of 117CW/338 Squadron
- July 2009 – July 2011: Training Officer in 117CW/Operational Conversion Unit
- July 2007 – July 2009: Staff Officer at 117CW Standardization – Evaluation Office
- August 2005 – July 2007: 117CW/338 Squadron’s Flight Commander
- May 1994 – August 2005: Pilot at 117CW/338 Squadron
- October 1993 – May 1994: Trainee at 117CW/Operational Conversion Unit
- June 1992 – October 1993: Trainee at 120 Air Training Wing
Flight Experience
He has more than 3300 flight hours.
He has flown with Τ-41D, Τ-37B/C, T-2E, F-4E.
Promotions
- 2nd Lieutenant: 26/05/1992
- 1st Lieutenant: 02/06/1995
- Captain: 21/06/1999
- Major: 04/07/2006
- Lieutenant Colonel: 13/04/2011
- Colonel: 13/04/2017
- Brigadier General: 04/03/2024
- Major General : 12/01/2026
Medals – Decorations
- Commander of the Order of Honor
- Commander of the Order of the Phoenix
- Medal of Military Merit 1st Class
- Air Force Formation Command Medal 3rd Class
- Air Force Meritorious Command Medal 1st Class
- Staff Officer Service Commendation Medal 1st Class
