Michael Costarakos has died at the age of 67.honorary leader of GEETHA.

He struggled with health problems for a long time and passed away at noon on Friday at the 424th military hospital in Thessaloniki.

From November 1, 2011 to September 15, 2015 – Chief of the General Staff of National Defense.

He was born in Thessaloniki in February 1956. He graduated from the Experimental School of the University of Thessaloniki and entered the Evelpida Military School in 1974, graduating in 1978 with the rank of second lieutenant of artillery.

Successfully completed:

• Schools of primary and higher training of artillery combat and the Intersectoral School of Air Defense,
• air defense school K / B HOK in Greece and the USA (FORT BLISS, TEXAS),
• K/B HOK School at the NATO Planning Center (NPC GLONS, Belgium),
• military College,
• the first NATO operational planning school at the Netherlands War College,
• School of International Security, NATO Defense School,
• School of National Defense.

As a junior and senior officer, he served:

• Heavy Artillery Commander A/K Artillery and K/B HOK,
• Operational officer of the K / V HOK squadron,
• Deputy Squadron Leader,
• Field Artillery Squadron Commander
• Squadron Leader K / V HOK,
• Artillery headquarters,
• Staff Intelligence of the NATO International Military Headquarters (IMS/NATO),
• Officer of the GEETHA Information Office,
• Chief of Staff of the Chief of the General Staff,
• Head of ONGOING OPERATION in the Balkans at IMS/NATO,
• Chief of Staff of the NATO Task Force in Greece,
• Director of its Joint Operations Center

As a senior officer, he served:

• Assistant Chief of Staff GSS/NDC-GR,
• Commander of the 96th Battalion of the High Command of the National Guard “HIOS”,
• Director of the 3rd EG/HES,
• HPP Operations Director,
• Director of the 1st branch / GIS,
• Commander of the 12th motorized infantry MP “EVROU”,
• Commander of the SS “Megas Alexander”,
• Commander of the NATO Operational Corps in Greece,
• Chief of the General Staff of National Defense.

On November 13, 2014, he was elected President of the Military Committee of the European Union.

He was awarded all the required combat medals and insignia of his rank.

He graduated from the Political Department of the Faculty of Law of the University of Athens and has a master’s degree in “diplomatic and strategic studies”. He spoke English and French. He was married to Ekaterina Sguru and had two daughters.