Col Bülent AKDENİZ is the Director and Turkish senior national representative at the NATO Centre of Excellence for the Defence Against Terrorism (COE-DAT) in Ankara, Turkey. As the Director, Colonel AKDENİZ leads all aspects supporting the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation in his effort to transform NATO in the field of counterterrorism.
Colonel AKDENİZ graduated from the Turkish Military Academy as an Infantry Officer in 1996 and from the Infantry School in 1997. He served as platoon leader, battalion and deputy brigade commander and Military Attaché prior to his assignment at COE-DAT. Col AKDENİZ is married to Ayşe AKDENİZ, with three children (two sons and a daughter). He has a Master’s Degree from Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey, California) on National Security Affairs Curriculum.
EDUCATION
- 1988 - 1992 Maltepe Military High School, İzmir, High School Diploma
- 1992 - 1996 Turkish Military Academy, Ankara, Bachelor’s Degree in System Engineering
- 2000 - 2002 Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, California U.S.A, Master’s Degree on National Security Affairs
ASSIGNMENTS
1. 1997 – 1999 Platoon Leader, 17th Internal Security Regiment, Kiğı/Bingöl
2. 1999 – 2000 Platoon Leader, 2nd Army HQ Support Group Guards Company, Malatya
3. 2000 – 2002 Master’s Degree Student, U.S.A
4. 2002 – 2004 Plans Officer, TUR Land Forces Intelligence Department, Ankara
5. 2004 – 2007 Instructor, Training Division Commander, International Special Training Center Pfullendorf, Germany
6. 2007 – 2013 Ops Plans Officer, Instructor, Turkish Special Forces Command, Ankara
7. 2013 – 2015 Intelligence Officer (Imagery), 23rd Gendarmerie Border Division, Şırnak
8. 2015 – 2016 Logistical Support Battalion Commander, Kuleli Military High School, Istanbul
9. 2016 – 2017 Exercise Plans Officer, NRDC-Turkiye, İstanbul
10. 2017 – 2018 Section Chief, Defense Planning, MOD HQ, Ankara
11. 2018 - 2020 Military Attaché, Tbilisi, Georgia
12. 2020 – 2022 Deputy Brigade Commander, 2nd Border Bde, Çukurca, Hakkari
13. 2022 – 2023 Section Chief, CT Training, Training and Doctrine Command, Ankara
14. 2023 Director, COE-DAT, Ankara
MISSIONS
June – December 2012, Liaison and Observation (LOT) Team Commander, Op.Althea Zenica, BiH
AWARDS
U.S Army Achievement Medal-2007
EU Common Security and Defense Policy Service Medal-2012
General Kvinitatze Medal (Georgian MOD)-2020
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Lieutenant, 30 August 1996
First Lieutenant, 30 August 1999
Captain, 30 August 2003
Major, 30 August 2008
Lieutenant-Colonel, 30 August 2013
Colonel, 30 August 2016