David Nairashvili

David Nairashvili
Born (1964-10-24) October 24, 1964 (age 60)
Allegiance Soviet Union
 Georgia
Service / branchSoviet Air Defence Forces
Georgian Army
Years of service1982-2014
Rank
CommandsGeorgian Armed Forces
Awards

David Nairashvili (Georgian: დავით ნაირაშვილი) (born October 24, 1964) is a Georgian brigadier general (2008) and former Deputy Chief of Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces.[1]

Born in Tbilisi, Nairashvili after completing his conscription with a radar unit in the Soviet Air Defense Forces between 1982 and 1984, graduated from the Soviet Mozhaisky Military Space Engineering Institute in 1986 and served as a MiG-25 pilot until 1989. Since 1992, he has held various positions in the National Guard of Georgia and Ministry of Defense of Georgia, including being Deputy Commander of Georgian Air Force (1993-1994), and Deputy Chief of General Staff (1999-2000, 2004–2005). From 2000 to 2004, he served as Georgia's first representative to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium.[2]

From March 2007 to September 2008, Nairashvili commanded the Georgian Air Force which saw combat action in the August 2008 war with Russia.[3] In April 2009, he was decorated with Georgia's high state award – St. George's Victory Order – for his conduct during the war.[4]

  1. ^ Deputy Chief of Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces: David Nairashvili. Ministry of Defense of Georgia. Retrieved on April 21, 2009
  2. ^ Darchiashvili, David. Georgia Courts NATO, Strives for Defense Overhaul Archived 2008-09-04 at the Wayback Machine. Eurasia Insight. July 26, 2000
  3. ^ New Chief of Air Forces Appointed. Civil Georgia. March 22, 2007
  4. ^ Saakashvili: ‘Peaceful Struggle Continues for De-Occupation’. Civil Georgia. April 20, 2009