Turkey: Top Military and Security Officials Appointed in Presidential Decisions

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has signed off on a series of high-level appointments and promotions across Turkey's military and security apparatus. The decisions, officially published in the Presidential Decisions section of the Official Gazette, bring about significant changes in leadership within the Land, Naval, and Air Forces, alongside the Gendarmerie General Command and the Coast Guard Command.

Within the Gendarmerie General Command, effective August 30, 2026, seven generals and 18 colonels have been promoted to higher ranks. Notably, Ünsal Bulut and Murat Bulut are elevated from Major General to Lieutenant General, while Hüseyin Bekmez, Hamdi Gülpınar, Ömer Ersever, Ferruh Taraktaş, and Mustafa Bakçepınar are promoted from Brigadier General to Major General. Additionally, 18 colonels have been promoted to Brigadier General.

The reshuffling also impacts key provincial gendarmerie commands. Major General İdris Tataroğlu is appointed as the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Commander, Major General Tarık Hekimoğlu takes command in Ankara, and Major General Halil Şen is assigned to İzmir. Other significant appointments include Major General Cengiz Yıldız in Erzurum, Major General Ali Gemalmaz in Diyarbakır, and Lieutenant General Yusuf Kenan Topcu to the Van Gendarmerie Border Corps Command.

Further adjustments have been made within the Coast Guard Command, where Vice Admiral Cengiz Fitoz has been promoted to Admiral, and Colonel Önder Göksel to Rear Admiral. Following these promotions, Admiral Cengiz Fitoz will serve as the Deputy Commander of the Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Gökmen Gücüyen will lead the Black Sea Region Command, Rear Admiral Alpaslan Baysal will head the Mediterranean Region Command, and Rear Admiral Önder Göksel will assume the role of Operations Chief at the Coast Guard Command. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) also saw numerous general and admiral appointments to new posts.