On January 5 Žilvinas Tomkus started work in the position of Vice Minister of National Defence. His area of responsibility covers defence policy and planning, military personnel policy and strategic communication, and public affairs.
Ž. Tomkus has been working in the National Defence System since 2003. “Žilvinas has substantial experience of working and improving his professionalism across different areas of the National Defence System. His experience and skills will be really valuable for ensuring the continuity of national defence activity and for implementing the provisions of the Lithuanian Government’s programme concerning strengthening of the Lithuanian defensive capabilities,” said Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
Before the current appointment, Ž. Tomkus headed the Military Service and Personnel Department at the Ministry of National Defence. That position was preceded by responsibilities of Defence Adviser at the Permanent Lithuanian Delegation to NATO where he represented Lithuania’s positions concerning consolidation of the NATO collective defence initiatives in the Baltic region, as Director of International Relations and Operations Department at the Ministry of National Defence, as Deputy Director of Defence Policy and Planning Department at the Ministry of National Defence, etc.
Ž. Tomkus studied at several courses at the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL) in Estonia, NATO Defence College in Rome, Defence Resources Management Institute in the U.S., etc.
Ž. Tomkus holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University. The new Vice Minister of National Defence also has the military rank of Reserve Lieutenant obtained at the Gen J. Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania and he served in the National Defence Volunteer Force for nearly ten years.
Photo credit: Alfredas Pliadis/MoD
