Lieutenant General Nikolaos Flaris was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia. He was admitted to the Hellenic Military Academy (Evelpidon) in 1982 and graduated in 1986 as Infantry Second Lieutenant.
As a junior Officer, he served in Special Forces Units as Platoon Leader and Company Commander (Parachutist Battalion, Amphibious Raider Battalions, 35th Raider Battalion, Marine Battalion).
He has attended all required Infantry Officer Training Courses and Special Forces Courses. Furthermore, he has attended the SOF training course at the International Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol School (ILRRPS) in Germany, the NATO School Oberammergau, the Special Operations Planning course in Belgium, and has studied EU Operational Planning at the European Security and Defence College in Vienna.
In 2000, he attended the Army War College.
During his career as a senior officer, in 1999 he was assigned as Deputy Commander to the 5th Special National Guard Battalion and then, after his graduation from the Army War College, he served as Staff Officer in the 13th Special Operations Command.
Subsequently, he served as Aide-de-Camp to the Chief HAGS (2002-2004) and in 2004 he was assigned to the Strategic Direction Center (SDC) of SHAPE in Belgium, where in 2007 he received a commendation in recognition for exceptional services for his services.
In 2007, he was assigned as Commander of the 7th Amphibious Raider Battalion (2007-2010) and then as National Plans Section Chief in the Plans Division of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff.
Upon his promotion to Colonel in 2011, he attended the Hellenic National Defence College and then assigned as Deputy Commander of the 13th Special Operations Command, while in 2014 he was assigned as Deputy Director of the Defence Planning and Programming Division of HAGS.
In 2015, he was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned the duties of Commanding General of the 1st Raider- Parachutist Brigade. In 2016, he was assigned as Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command.
In 2018, he was promoted to Major General while serving as Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command and in 2019 he was assigned as Commanding General of the 95th Higher National Guard Battalions Command "DIAGORIDON".
On 09 March 2020, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and assumed his duties as HAGS Chief of Staff.
On 02 March 2021, he assumed his duties as Commanding General of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands.
On 09 March 2022, upon decision of the Governmental Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence, he assumed his duties as Army General Inspector-Doctrine and Training Commander.
On 30 August 2024 upon decision of Minister of Defense, he assumed his duties as Greek National Military Representative at SHAPE in Mons Belgium.
Lieutenant General Nikolaos Flaris has been awarded all decorations, commendations, and medals provided for his rank.
He is a Centre d’ Etudes Diplomatiques et Strategiques (CEDS) graduate. He also holds a Masters Degree in “Political Sciences and Sociology” from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens.
He is an active Parachutist and Underwater Demolition Specialist and speaks English.
Lieutenant General Nikolaos Flaris is married to Pinelopi Papadaki, who is a private employee, and they have 3 children.
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