Estonian president to bestow rank of brigadier general to Jaak Tarien

TALLINN – Estonian President Alar Karis is about to bestow the rank of brigadier general to Col. Jaak Tarien, director of the Tallinn-based NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE), on Tuesday.

The ceremony will take place at 11.30 a.m. in Kadriorg.

Tarien has been the director of CCDCOE since September 2018. CCDCOE is a NATO-accredited cyber defense hub focusing on research, training and exercises. The international military organization is a community of currently 29 nations providing a 360-degree look at cyber defense, with expertise in the areas of technology, strategy, operations and law.

Prior to joining CCDCOE, Tarien served as commander of the Estonian Air Force from August 2012 to July 2018. Among other assignments he has also served as staff officer with NATO's Supreme Allied Command Transformation (ACT), as deputy director of the Regional Airspace Surveillance Coordination Centre and as commander of the Estonian team at the BALTNET Regional Airspace Surveillance Coordination Centre in Lithuania.

Tarien, a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, earned his master's degree from the Air Command and Staff College of the USAF Air University. He recently also acquired a master of science degree in National Resource Strategy at the US National Defense University, according to the website of CCDCOE.