History in the Turkish Skies: First Woman to Reach General Rank in the Air Force
Ozlem Karapinar has become the first woman in Turkish history to reach the rank of general in the Air Force. The promotion was part of a major round of military appointments signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
History was made this week at Turkey's Supreme Military Council, as Ozlem Karapinar became the first woman in the country's history to receive the rank of general in the Turkish Air Force. Karapinar's promotion to the rank of brigadier general was announced as part of a broad round of appointments in the top brass of the armed forces, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following discussions held at the presidential palace in Ankara.
According to a report by the Turkish news agency Anadolu, the council approved the promotion of 25 generals and admirals to higher ranks and promoted 69 officers to the ranks of general and admiral, which will officially take effect on August 30. The move marks a significant milestone for the Turkish military, whose leadership has historically been characterized as almost entirely male. Notably, in 2023, Gokcen Firat made similar history when she became the first female admiral in the history of the Turkish Navy.
Alongside Karapinar's promotion, the name of Alper Gezeravci, the first Turkish astronaut to be launched to the International Space Station earlier this year, also stood out on the list of those receiving ranks in the Air Force. Gezeravci was also promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
The comprehensive round of appointments affected all branches of the military and included significant changes in the top command. Air Force Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadioglu retired from his position, and in his place was appointed General Rafet Dalkiran, who previously commanded the fighter jet fleet. In the Navy, it was decided to extend the term of the commander-in-chief, Admiral Ercument Tatlioglu, by another year. With the appointments taking effect, the number of serving generals and admirals in the Turkish military will stand at 334 commanders.
The announcements were praised by senior officials in Ankara. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan posted his congratulations to the new commanders on his social media accounts:
«I hope that the council's decisions will be a source of good for our country, our nation, and our heroic army.»
The Communications Director of the Presidency, Fahrettin Altun, also addressed the changes and expressed his confidence that the armed forces «will continue their mission with the same determination for the peace of our country, the survival of our nation, and the establishment of stability in our region.»
