Col Rauno Sirk to become new commander of Estonian Air Force

TALLINN - Estonian Minister of Defense Juri Luik has signed directives whereby Col. Rauno Sirk is appointed commander of the Estonian Air Force and Lt. Col. Margus Kuul commander of the Special Operations Force.

Sirk has for the past three years been director of the Center for Defense Investment (ECDI). He has also previously served as chief of the Amari air base, chief of staff of the Air Force and as deputy to the representative of Estonia to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE).

Kuul has served as deputy commander of the Special Operations Force, chief of the Special Operations Task Group and chief of the Estpla-12 infantry platoon in Iraq.

The ceremonies in which the current commander of the Air Force Col. Riivo Valge is to hand over command to Sirk and the incumbent commander of the Special Operations Force Col. Riho Uhtegi to Kuul will be held this week. 

Valge, in turn, is to take up a position as head of administration at the Estonian Military Academy, and Uhtegi will continue as commander of the Kaitseliit (Defense League) volunteer corps.