Colonel General Metodi Stamboliski

Colonel General Metodi Stamboliski

He was born on April 10, 1947 in the village of Machevo, Berovo, Macedonia, to father Jovan and mother Vangelija. From the marriage with his wife Danka (1952), he is the father of two children, son Oliver (1975) and daughter Natasha (1973) and the grandfather of granddaughters Sofija (2010) and Luna (2015).

After completing the eight years of elementary school, he graduated from the high school in Berovo in 1966, after which he continued his education at the Military Academy of the YNA Land Forces in Belgrade and Sarajevo and graduated in 1970. In 1982, he graduated from the Command and Staff College, and in 1988 he completed his education at the Command Staff School.

He was promoted to the rank of Artillery Second Lieutenant in 1970. In 1973, he was promoted in the rank of Lieutenant and in 1975, to the rank of Captain. In 1978, he was promoted to the rank of Captain 1st Class. In 1982, he was promoted in the rank of Major. Four years later, in 1986, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and in 1991, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. In 1997, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, and in 2000, he was promoted to the rank of Major General. In 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, and in 2003, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel General.

Throughout his career he was appointed on duty in two different garrisons of the YNA, Rashka (1970 – 1990) and Uroshevac (1990-1992). On March 23, 1992, he left the YNA and joined the ARM garrisons in: Skopje (1992-1996) and (2000-2005), Bitola (1996-2000) and Veles (2000). During his service he performed several duties:

Platoon Commander (1970 – 1971);
Battery Commander (1971 – 1978);
Deputy Commander of a Mixed Artillery Regiment (1978 – 1980);
Commander of the Mixed Artillery Regiment (1982 – 1990);
Commander of the Mixed Artillery Regiment, also the Commander of the Garrison Uroshevac (1990 – 1992);
Chief of Operations Department in the Agency for Combat Readiness in the ARM General Staff (1992 – 1994);
Commander of the 3rd Army Corps (1994-1995);
Commander of the 2nd Army Corps (1995-1999);
Border Brigade Commander (2000);
Chief of G-3 in the ARM GS, responsible for planning, training and combat readiness of the Army (2000-2001);
Deputy Chief of the ARM General Staff in 2001;
Chief of the ARM General Staff (2001 – 2004);
Advisor for Military Affairs of the President of Republic of Macedonia (2004-2005).

As a reward for his professionalism in the performance of duties and responsibilities as a senior military officer, the commitment and efforts in enhancing the combat readiness of the army and military processes, many times in his career he received decorations, awards, and among other, he received the following: