Biography
Esa Pulkkinen - Lieutenant General
From Commission on the Defence Forces
Published on
Last updated on
From Commission on the Defence Forces
Published on
Last updated on
Esa Pulkkinen has served as Director General of the Defence Policy in the Ministry of Defence of Finland from 2011 – 2016 and from 2020 to date. A specialist in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) of the EU, he served as Director General of the EU Military Staff (EUMS) for four years from 2016 – 2020 where he was responsible for early warning, situation assessment and strategic planning for EU military missions and operations. In 2017, he also assumed responsibility as Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) within the EUMS. Esa joined the Finnish Armed Forces in 1977 and, after graduating from the Military Academy in 1980, he served in a wide range of leadership positions. He has an extensive background in National Defence and served as the Assistant Chief of Staff in the Plans and Policy Division of the Finnish Defence Command.