Turkey announces key promotions and leadership changes in Gendarmerie, Coast Guard

Turkey's Official Gazette has published a series of appointments and promotions signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, affecting high-ranking officers in the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard. The changes, effective August 30, signal a significant reshuffling of leadership within these security forces.

Within the Gendarmerie, seven generals and 18 colonels have been elevated to higher ranks. Notably, Lieutenant Generals Ünsal Bulut and Murat Bulut are promoted to Lieutenant General, while Major Generals Hüseyin Bekmez, Hamdi Gülpınar, Ömer Ersever, Ferruh Taraktaş, and Mustafa Bakçepınar are promoted to Lieutenant General. Additionally, 18 colonels have been promoted to the rank of Major General.

The appointments also include key leadership changes. Lieutenant General Yusuf Kenan Topçu, formerly the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Commander, will now lead the Van Gendarmerie First Army Corps. Lieutenant General Ünsal Bulut moves to Deputy Commander of the Gendarmerie General Command, as does Lieutenant General Murat Bulut. Major General Metin Düz, previously the İzmir Provincial Gendarmerie Commander, is appointed Head of Public Order. Major General Cengiz Yıldız, the Ankara Provincial Gendarmerie Commander, will now head the Erzurum Provincial Gendarmerie. Major General İdris Tataroğlu, formerly Bursa Provincial Gendarmerie Commander, takes over as Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Commander, and Major General Tarık Hekimoğlu, the Diyarbakır Provincial Gendarmerie Commander, is appointed to lead the Ankara Provincial Gendarmerie.

Several high-ranking officers have been reassigned to the Gendarmerie General Command, including Lieutenant Generals Hüseyin Kurtoğlu and Münir Güzel, Major General Ersel Özer, and Major General Mustafa Erdem. The commanders of 12 provinces have also been reassigned.

In the Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Cengiz Fitoz has been promoted to Vice Admiral, and Colonel Önder Göksel to Rear Admiral. The Coast Guard also sees changes in regional command: Rear Admiral Ahmet Bahadır moves from Black Sea Regional Commander to Commander of Coast Guard Training and Education Command. Rear Admiral Gürkan Erken is appointed Head of Inspection, Audit, and Investigation. Rear Admiral Gökhan Gücüyen becomes the Black Sea Regional Commander, and Rear Admiral Alpaslan Baysal takes charge of the Mediterranean Region Command. Rear Admiral Önder Göksel is appointed Head of Operations.

Beyond the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard, the decree also involves personnel changes for 123 generals in the Land Forces Command, 38 admirals in the Naval Forces Command, and 44 generals in the Air Forces Command.