The President of the Republic, Ilir Meta, at the same time Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, decreed Brigadier General Bardhyl Kollçaku as Chief of General Staff.
Brigadier General Bardhyll Kollçaku received the magistrate rank by decree of the President on 31 July 2017, and Minister of Defense Mrs. Mimi Kodheli handed it over to him at a special ceremony.
The new Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Albania, Brigadier General Kollçaku in his long and prominent military career after graduating from the Military Academy in 1990 as a tactical intelligence officer served as Director of the J5/8 at the General Staff before carrying out the duties of the General Director of the Intelligence and Security Agency of Defense (AISM).
Brigadier General Kollçaku also held various positions at brigade headquarters (chief of intelligence), Director of J2 Directorate and J3 Directorate at General Staff, and Head of Sector at International Cooperation Directorate, serving also in other important positions in international and multinational environments.
His last assignment in NATO was Director of the Division of Coordination and Integration at the Supreme Allied Command in 2013 - 2014. From October 1996 to April 1997 with then the rank of Colonel, Brigadier General Kollçaku served as a military observer at the UN mission in Georgia. (UNOMIG).
Brigadier General Kollçaku has attended and has also graduated from the United States Command and Staff College, the Joint Armed Forces College, the United States Strategic Intelligence Combined Intelligence Course and the Executive Course of Strategic Studies European Security at the George C. Marshall Center.
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Education, and military career of Brigadier General Bardhyl Myrteza Kollçaku
Brigadier General Bardhyl Kollçaku, was born on June 05, 1967 in Pëllumbas, Berat.
He completed his studies at the Skanderbeg High School, the United High School of Officers and became an active officer in the "intelligence" specialty in 1990.
During his military career he completed the High Security and Defense College, Tirana, the United States College of Staffs, and the College of Command and Staff in the United States.
He has completed his Master's degree in Public Administration (UT) in collaboration with the University of Nebraska, as well as has received PhD in the field of Defense.
Brigadier General Collins has also attended the International Senior Defense Management Course as well as the International Tactical and Intelligence Officer Course in the United States.
Among other things, his rich academic biography includes, the Basic Course of Staff Officer, Special Forces Course and Executive Security Course at Marshall Center, Garmisch, Germany.
Brigadier General Kollçaku has performed various tasks such as: General Director of the Intelligence and Security Agency, Director of Defense Planning and Monitoring Directorate at the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Director of the Strategic Policy Department and Head of Cabinet of Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
Brigadier General Kollçaku has contributed to the establishment of the SEDM-CC Secretariat, the first international structure of the Ministry of Defense.
He has performed various duties as Staff officer and Head of Sector in Intelligence, Planning and External Relations.
After Albania's NATO membership, Brigadier General Kollçaku was among the first appointed officers in Alliance headquarters, initially as head of staff and later as director of the PfP Integration and PfP Directorate at SHAPE, Belgium.
He started his career with troops as platoon commander at the GS, the commander of the company and chief of intelligence at the Infantry Brigade, and cloaked as commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in the Rapid Reaction Brigade, assessed and certified by NATO.
Brigadier General Kollçaku served as a Military Observer at the UN Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG).
Brigadier General Kollçaku has been awarded various medals for achievements during his long military career.
Brigadier General Kollçaku is fluent in English.
He is married and has two grown children.
