Lieutenant General Christos Athanasiou 2002-2005 Lieutenant General Christos Athanasiou was born on January 25, 1946, in Kastraki of Kalampaka (Central Greece/Thessalia Region). He was admitted in the Military Academy (Evelpidon) in 1964, graduated in 1968, and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. He successfully completed courses (Basic and Advanced) at the school of his branch (platoon, company and battalion co, course), as also Special Forces schools (rangers, parachutist, H.A.L.O. etc). He attended the Hellenic Army War College (1981-1982), the French Army War College (Ecole Superieur de Guerre, France, 1984-1986) and the Hellenic National Defense College (1991). General Athanasiou holds a Batchelor's Degree in Law of University of Athens. He served in various infantry and special forces units of Hellenic Armed Forces as Platoon Leader and Company Commander. He served also as Instructor in Hellenic Army War College (1986-1989) and as the Commander of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion (1989-1990). From 1990 to 1992, he served as a staff officer in HAGS. Promoted Colonel in 1992, Lt. Gen. Athanasiou was assigned as Defense attaché at the Embassy of Greece in France until 1995. In March 1995, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and appointed as Commander of 32nd Marines Brigade (1995-1996). In 1996, he assumed the Command of 71st Airborne Brigade until 1997, where he assumed the appointment of the Director of Arms Control and Verification Directorate at Hellenic National Defense General Staff. Following his promotion to the rank of Major General (1998), he assumed the appointment of Hellenic National Military Representative (N.M.R. / S.H.A.P.E.), where he served until March 2000. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General (2000), he was appointed as Commander of B' Army Corps until February 2001. After that he was assigned as General Inspector of Hellenic Army General Staff until March of 2002. On April 2002, Lt. Gen. Athanasiou nominated for appointment as the new Hellenic Military Representative to the NATO Military Committee. His personal decorations include the Knight Commander's High Cross of Phoenix, Knight Commander of the Order of Honor, Medal of the Military Merit (1st Class), Commendation Medal of Merit and Honor, Medal of Army Formation Command (1st class), Army Meritorious Command Commendation Medal (1st Class), Staff Officer Service Commendation Medal (1st class) and the French National Medal of Merit. He speaks English and French. Lt. Gen. Athanasiou is married to the former Irini (Rena) Stavridou and has two daughters, Georgina (25) and Evelina (23).