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Chief of the Defence (Bulgaria)

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Chief of the Defence
Началник на отбраната
Načalnik na Otbranata
Coat of arms of the Bulgarian Armed Forces
Incumbent
Admiral Emil Eftimov [bg]
since 30 March 2020
Bulgarian Armed Forces
Reports toMinister of Defence
AppointerPresident of Bulgaria
Formation9 September 1885
First holderCaptain Racho Petrov
WebsiteOfficial website

The Chief of the Defence (Bulgarian: Началник на отбраната, romanizedNačalnik na Otbranata), until 2009 the Chief of the General Staff (Bulgarian: Началник на Генерален щаб / Načalnik na Generalen Shtab),[1] is the principal head of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. The chief is appointed by the President of Bulgaria, who is the commander-in-chief. The position dates back to the Principality of Bulgaria. The current Chief of the Defence is Admiral Emil Eftimov.

List of the Chiefs

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Ward of Stroevo (1879−1890)

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No. Portrait Ward of Stroevo Took office Left office Time in office
1
Racho Petrov
Petrov, RachoCaptain
Racho Petrov
(1861–1942)
9 September 188529 April 18871 year, 232 days
2
Stefan Paprikov [bg]
Paprikov, StefanMajor
Stefan Paprikov [bg]
(1858–1920)
18 August 188723 October 188766 days
(1)
Racho Petrov
Petrov, RachoMajor
Racho Petrov
(1861–1942)
23 October 188715 April 18946 years, 174 days

General Staff of the Bulgarian Land Army (1890−1895)

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No. Portrait Chief of the General Staff Took office Left office Time in office
3
Nikola Ivanov
Ivanov, NikolaLieutenant Colonel
Nikola Ivanov
(1861–1940)
10 May 189429 November 18962 years, 203 days

Headquarters of the Bulgarian Army (1896−1899)

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No. Portrait Chief of the Headquarters Took office Left office Time in office
(2)
Stefan Paprikov [bg]
Paprikov, StefanColonel
Stefan Paprikov [bg]
(1858–1920)
30 November 189618 January 18992 years, 49 days
4
Varban Vinarov [bg]
Vinarov, VarbanColonel
Varban Vinarov [bg]
(1856–1908)
24 June 189918 February 1900239 days

General Staff (1900−1903)

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No. Portrait Chief of the General Staff Took office Left office Time in office
5
Stefan Ilyev [bg]
Ilyev, StefanColonel
Stefan Ilyev [bg]
(1859–1913)
18 February 19001 January 19043 years, 317 days

Army Staff (1903−1949)

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No. Portrait Chief of the Army Staff Took office Left office Time in office
6
Radko Dimitriev
Dimitriev, RadkoMajor General
Radko Dimitriev
(1859–1918)
1 January 190428 March 19073 years, 86 days
7
Vicho Dikov [bg]
Dikov, VichoMajor General
Vicho Dikov [bg]
(1861–1928)
28 March 19072 November 1907219 days
8
Atanas Nazlamov [bg]
Nazlamov, AtanasMajor General
Atanas Nazlamov [bg]
(1863–1935)
2 November 190727 March 19102 years, 145 days
9
Ivan Fichev
Fichev, IvanMajor General
Ivan Fichev
(1860–1931)
27 March 191014 January 19143 years, 293 days
10
Pravoslav Tenev
Tenev, PravoslavMajor General
Pravoslav Tenev
(1862–1942)
6 March 191415 April 19151 year, 40 days
11
Kliment Boyadzhiev
Boyadzhiev, KlimentMajor General
Kliment Boyadzhiev
(1861–1933)
15 April 19157 September 1915145 days
12
Konstantin Zhostov
Zhostov, KonstantinMajor General
Konstantin Zhostov
(1867–1916)
7 September 191530 August 1916 †358 days
13
Ivan Lukov
Lukov, IvanColonel
Ivan Lukov
(1871–1926)
1 September 191630 December 19171 year, 120 days
14
Hristo Burmov
Burmov, HristoMajor General
Hristo Burmov
(1869–1936)
17 July 191810 October 191885 days
(13)
Ivan Lukov
Lukov, IvanMajor General
Ivan Lukov
(1871–1926)
10 October 191827 October 19191 year, 17 days
15
Stefan Nerezov
Nerezov, StefanMajor General
Stefan Nerezov
(1867–1925)
2 November 19193 September 1920306 days
16
Petar Midilev [bg]
Midilev, PetarColonel
Petar Midilev [bg]
(1875–1939)
3 September 19203 December 192091 days
17
Nikola Topaldzhikov [bg]
Topaldzhikov, NikolaColonel
Nikola Topaldzhikov [bg]
(1875–1925)
3 December 192020 April 19232 years, 138 days
Stefan Noykov [bg]
Noykov, StefanColonel
Stefan Noykov [bg]
(1876–1925)
Acting
18 May 19239 June 192322 days
18
Aleksandar Davidov [bg]
Davidov, AleksandarColonel
Aleksandar Davidov [bg]
(1878–1925)
9 June 19233 July 192324 days
19
Vladimir Stoyanov [bg]
Stoyanov, VladimirColonel
Vladimir Stoyanov [bg]
(1879–?)
4 July 19231 June 19262 years, 332 days
20
Nikola Bakardzhiev [bg]
Bakardzhiev, NikolaColonel
Nikola Bakardzhiev [bg]
(1881–1954)
1 June 192611 January 19292 years, 224 days
21
Sotir Marinkov [bg]
Marinkov, SotirMajor General
Sotir Marinkov [bg]
(1880–?)
November 192931 January 19311 year, 2 months
(20)
Nikola Bakardzhiev [bg]
Bakardzhiev, NikolaLieutenant General
Nikola Bakardzhiev [bg]
(1881–1954)
31 January 19316 May 19343 years, 95 days
22
Mihail Yovov [bg]
Yovov, MihailMajor General
Mihail Yovov [bg]
(1886–1951)
18 May 193419 May 19341 day
23
Todor Georgiev [bg]
Georgiev, TodorMajor General
Todor Georgiev [bg]
(1882–1971)
21 May 193426 December 19362 years, 219 days
24
Yordan Peev [bg]
Peev, YordanMajor General
Yordan Peev [bg]
(1884–1938)
29 January 193710 October 1938 †1 year, 254 days
25
Nikola Hadzhipetkov [bg]
Hadzhipetkov, NikolaMajor General
Nikola Hadzhipetkov [bg]
(1891–1949)
10 December 193811 August 19412 years, 305 days
26
Konstantin Lukash
Lukash, KonstantinLieutenant General
Konstantin Lukash
(1890–1945)
11 August 194111 May 19442 years, 274 days
27
Trifon Trifonov [bg]
Trifonov, TrifonMajor General
Trifon Trifonov [bg]
(1895–1945)
11 May 19446 September 1944118 days
28
Kiril Yanchulev
Yanchulev, KirilMajor General
Kiril Yanchulev
(1896–1961)
6 September 194413 September 19447 days
29
Raycho Slavkov [bg]
Slavkov, RaychoMajor General
Raycho Slavkov [bg]
(1896–1961)
13 September 194415 December 194493 days
30
Ivan Kinov [bg]
Kinov, IvanMajor General
Ivan Kinov [bg]
(1893–1967)
15 December 194410 December 19495 years, 86 days

General Staff (1949−2009)

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No. Portrait Chief of the General Staff Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch Nation
32
Asen Grekov [bg]
Grekov, AsenLieutenant General
Asen Grekov [bg]
(1893–1954)
10 December 194914 December 19501 year, 4 daysArmy People's Republic of Bulgaria
33
Ivan Bachvarov [bg]
Bachvarov, IvanColonel General
Ivan Bachvarov [bg]
(1912–1966)
14 December 195025 January 19609 years, 42 daysArmy People's Republic of Bulgaria
34
Ivan Vrachev [bg]
Vrachev, IvanLieutenant General
Ivan Vrachev [bg]
(1921–1994)
25 January 196022 March 19622 years, 56 daysArmy People's Republic of Bulgaria
35
Atanas Semerdzhiev
Semerdzhiev, AtanasColonel General
Atanas Semerdzhiev
(1924–2015)
22 March 196228 December 198927 years, 281 daysArmy People's Republic of Bulgaria
36
Hristo Dobrev
Dobrev, HristoColonel General
Hristo Dobrev
(1923–2013)
28 December 198915 August 1990230 daysArmy People's Republic of Bulgaria
37
Radniu Minchev [bg]
Minchev, RadniuLieutenant General
Radniu Minchev [bg]
(1928–2001)
15 August 19902 August 1991352 daysArmy People's Republic of Bulgaria
 Bulgaria
38
Lyuben Petrov [bg]
Petrov, LyubenGeneral of the Army
Lyuben Petrov [bg]
(born 1938)
2 August 19912 September 19943 years, 31 daysArmy Bulgaria
39
Tsvetan Totomirov [bg]
Totomirov, TsvetanColonel General
Tsvetan Totomirov [bg]
(born 1943)
2 September 199411 June 19972 years, 282 daysArmy Bulgaria
40
Miho Mihov [bg]
Mihov, MihoColonel General
Miho Mihov [bg]
(born 1949)
11 June 199711 June 20025 years, 0 daysAir Force Bulgaria
41
Nikola Kolev [bg]
Kolev, NikolaGeneral
Nikola Kolev [bg]
(1951–2021)
11 June 20021 June 20063 years, 355 daysAir Force Bulgaria
42
Zlatan Stoykov
Stoykov, ZlatanGeneral
Zlatan Stoykov
(born 1951)
1 June 20067 July 20093 years, 36 daysArmy Bulgaria

Chief of the Defence (2009−present)

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No. Portrait Chief of the Defence Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch
43
Simeon Simeonov [bg]
Simeonov, SimeonGeneral
Simeon Simeonov [bg]
(born 1955)
7 July 200930 June 20144 years, 358 days
Air Force
44
Rumen Nikolov [bg]
Nikolov, RumenVice Admiral
Rumen Nikolov [bg]
(born 1957)
30 June 20148 February 20161 year, 223 days
Navy
45
Constantin Popov [bg]
Popov, ConstantinGeneral
Constantin Popov [bg]
(born 1961)
9 February 201619 January 2017345 days
Air Force
Emil Eftimov [bg]
Eftimov, EmilVice Admiral
Emil Eftimov [bg]
(born 1961)
Acting
19 January 20172 March 201742 days
Navy
46
Andrey Botsev [bg]
Botsev, AndreyGeneral
Andrey Botsev [bg]
(1959–2020)
2 March 201727 February 2020 †2 years, 362 days
Army
Emil Eftimov [bg]
Eftimov, EmilVice Admiral
Emil Eftimov [bg]
(born 1961)
Acting
27 February 202030 March 202032 days
Navy
47
Emil Eftimov [bg]
Eftimov, EmilAdmiral
Emil Eftimov [bg]
(born 1961)
30 March 2020Incumbent4 years, 241 days
Navy

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Закон за отбраната и въоръжените сили на Република България" [Law on Defence and Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria] (PDF) (in Bulgarian). Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria. 27 April 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.