Endrartono Sutarto
National Armed Forces Join Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff of National Armed Forces (KSAD) TNI General Endriartono Sutarto was the sole candidate for the position of TNI Commander replacing Admiral Widodo AS.
The TNI Commander was born in Purworejo, Central Java on 29 April 1947. Before reaching the top post in TNI, General Endriartono graduated from TNI Military Academy (AKABRI) and graduated in 1971. After graduation (1972), General Endriartono became Platoon commander at Infantry Battalion (Yonif) 305 Kostrad (Army Strategic Corps) for four years. In 1976 he received a new commission at Yonif 328 Kosrtrad as Company commander for about three years. In 1979 he was transferred to Yonif 330 Kostrad still as Company commander. In 1985 career of Endrartono began to rise when he was appointed acting commander of Yonif 514. Then in 1988 he became Chief of Staff of Infantry Brigade (Brigif) 17 Konstrad. In 1991 he was transferred to Pabandya 2 Opsdika PBN V Konstrad for two years. In 1993 he was assigned to Jakarta Metropolitan Military Command (Kodam Jaya) as Deputy for Operation. In 1994-1005 his career continued to rise, when he was appointed Deputy Arsenum to Indonesian Armed Forces Commander (ABRI) ,and Deputy Assistant for Operation of National Army Command (KSAD) until 1996. In 1997-1998 Endriartono again received a new commission as Commander of the Presidential Security Force (Paspampres) until the time he was appointed Deputy for Operation of the General Staff (Kasum) until 2000. In 2002 before appointed Deputy Army Chief of Staff, he was also Commander of TNI Staff and Command School (Sesko TNI). After going through a lengthy journey in tandem with dedication and full commitment, General Endrartono had the opportunity to reach his top career. Exactly at the time when President Megawati Soekarnoputri proposed him to the House of Representatives as the sole candidate for the post of TNI Commander.
Ryamizard Ryacudu
Army Chief of Staff
Ryamizard Ryacudu, a 1974 Armed Forces Academy graduate, was born 52 years ago in Palembang, South Sumatra, and is married to Nora, a daughter of former vice president Try Sutrisno. To many people, the appointment of Ryamizard to the top Army post comes as no surprise as they believe that he and President Megawati Soekarnoputri have an "emotional attachment". Ryamizard's father, the late Maj. Gen. Ryacudu, was a loyalist of first president Sukarno, who was Megawati's father. Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas was also born in Palembang. Ryamizard spent most of his military career in the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), from platoon commander in 1976 all the way to commander in 2000.
He completed his Military Academy in 1974. His foreign assignments between 1976 to 1991 included Malaysia, Australia, the United States and China. He attracted international attention when he led the Indonesian Armed Forces delegation to Cambodia in 1993 to support the UN peacekeeping force's mission there. He was appointed Jakarta Military commander in 1999 to replace Lt. Gen. Djadja Suparman. In contrast to many generals who engaged in politics, the former 1999 East Java-based Brawijaya Military commander, would rather concentrate on military exercises in remote areas. The Surveillance and Combat Platoon (Tontaipur) -- a fusion of Kostrad intelligence units-- was establishment during his command.
Chappy Hakim
Air Force Chief of Staff
Air Chief Marshall Chappy Hakim has been with the Indonesian Air Force since 1968. Born in Yogyakarta in 1947, ACM Chappy Hakim has been awarded various medals for his dedication and loyalty to his country. He joined different kinds of schools and training in Indonesia as well as overseas. Chappy has around 8,000 flying hours.
Bernard Kent Sondakh
Navy Chief of Staff
Admiral Bernard Kent Sondakh was born in Tobelo, June, 09th , 1948. His military career was started in 1970, when he joined the Navy Academy. He was sent to attend various military courses in Nederland on 1979 and to Yugoslavia in 1990. He finished the Armed Forces Command School in 1994 and completed the National Resilience Course in 2001. He was stationed at the inspectorate general of the Indonesian Armed Forces Headquarters prior to be appointed as the Navy Chief of Staff.
