Colonel Arben Kingji and Colonel Ilir Xhebexhia were promoted to the rank of "brigadier general", two newly generals of the Armed Forces

Published: Friday, 11 September 2020 20:05

Colonel Arben Kingji and Colonel Ilir Xhebexhia are the newly promoted generals of the Albanian Armed Forces. They were decreed today by the President of the Republic Ilir Meta to the rank of "brigadier general".

Brigadier General Arben Kingji currently holds the position of Commander of the Support Battalion at the General Staff of the Armed Forces. Brigadier General Arben Kingji has also exercised other duties such as that of the Defense Attaché of the Republic of Albania in Romania. Earlier he was also been the Commander of the Military Police. He completed the General Staff Course at the Defense Academy in Tirana. Brigadier General Kingji served as a Contingent Commander on several missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In 2016 he also completed his law studies at Winsdom University. For his contributions at the Armed Forces, Brigadier General Arben Kingji has been honored with several medals. He also holds the Golden Eagle Medal, awarded by the President of the Republic.

Colonel Ilir Xhebexhia currently holds the position of Deputy Military Representative in NATO, Defense Attaché of the Republic of Albania in Belgium and non-resident in France, in the Military Representations Abroad. He has completed the General Staff Officer Course at the Defense Academy. In 2006 - 2007 he was a coordinating officer at the US Central Command Tampa - Florida USA. He also served as Deputy Commander of the Radio Intelligence Center, Lieutenant Colonel, Intelligence Staff Officer, Military Representation - Brussels.

He has participated in several international missions such as: "Rescuer" Exercise, North Macedonia; "Rescuer:" Coordination Officer, North Macedonia; SFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Iraqi Freedom Operation (C-2 at CJTF-7) in Baghdad.

Brigadier General Ilir Xhebexhia already counts a number of courses in Turkey, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands. During his career, Brigadier General Xhebexhia has been awarded several medals, including; "NATO Medal for the Peacekeeping Mission" 1998, awarded by the NATO Secretary General. He has published two books, "Iraqi Freedom" in 2006 and "Southeast Europe Integration Processes" in 2007 and co-authored several other publications.