Akın Öztürk
 |
 | This person may be affected by the following current event: 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt. Information in this person may change rapidly as the event progresses. Initial news reports may be unreliable. The last updates to this person may not reflect the most current information. (July 2016) |
Akın Öztürk | |
|---|---|
| File:KORG OZTURK.jpg | |
| Born | February 21, 1952 Gümüşhane, Turkey |
| Allegiance |  Turkey |
| Service/ | Turkish Air Force |
| Years of service | 1973–2016 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Commander of Air Force Intelligence Chief of Air Force 2nd Air Supply and Maintenance Command Training and Projects Command 141st Squadron Command MJB Operations Command |
| Awards | NATO Medal,
Turkish Armed Forces Distinguished Service Medal, Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Honor Pakistan Nishan-e Imtiaz Medal. |
Akın Öztürk (born February 21, 1952) is a former four-star General in the Turkish Air Force who served as the 30th Commander of the Turkish Air Force until August 4, 2015. He has been continuing his duty as a Member of the Supreme Military Council.
As of July 15, 2016 former Turkish Air Force General Akın Öztürk has been branded as an enemy of the state and a terrorist,[1] due to his alleged leading role in the military coup attempt to oust the parliamentary democracy of Turkey.[2]
Biography
Early life
General Akın Öztürk, was born in 1952 in Gümüşhane. After completing his high school education in Erzincan, he graduated from Turkish Air Force Academy in 1973.
Upon graduating from 2nd Main Jet Base (MJB) Flight Training School as fighter pilot in 1975, he was assigned to 7th MJB, Malatya where he served as F-100 and then F-4 pilot until 1981. Between 1981 and 1985, he was assigned to 1st MJB, Eskişehir where he served as Squadron Officer and Standardization and Evaluation Branch Chief. He attended Air War College in 1985 and graduated in 1987.
He was assigned to 3rd MJB as Standardization and Evaluation Officer in 1987. In 1989 he was assigned to 4th MJB where he became an F-16 pilot. He served as 141st Squadron Operations Officer between 1989 and 1991.
Later career
Starting in May 1991, Öztürk was the commander of the 141st Squadron until 1993. Between 1993 and 1996 he served as Project Officer and Branch Chief in Training Department at Turkish Air Headquarters. He was the Turkish Military attache to Israel between 1996 and 1998. He then became the Operations Commander of the 6th MJB, Bandırma between 1998 and 2000.
After his promotion to Brigadier General in 2000, he served as Chief of Training Department in Air Force Headquarters for two years and as the Commander of 9th MJB until 2004.
As of 2004 he was promoted to Major General and assigned as Commander of 2nd Air Supply and Maintenance Center for two years. In 2006 he assumed the command of 2nd MJB. In 2008, he became the Chief of Intelligence of Turkish Air Force.
In 2009, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and served as the 2nd Air Force Commander for two years. He then became the Commander of the Air Training Command in 2011.
General Öztürk promoted to the rank of General on 22 August 2013, and was assigned as the 30th Commander of the Turkish Air Force on 30 August 2013.
General Öztürk has logged 5800 flight hours in 30 different aircraft types during his 43 years of flight career.
As of 4 August 2015, tenure of General Öztürk expired and he has been continuing his duty as a Member of the Supreme Military Council.
2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt
Akin Öztürk was among the 2,839 military officials arrested on 16 July 2016 as part of a large Turkish government crackdown on individuals possibly responsible for the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt on 15 July 2016.[3][4] Hurriyet newspaper reports that he is the leader of the coup attempt.
Flight information
- Rating: Command pilot
- Flight hours: More than 5,800
- Aircraft flown: F-16, F-4, F-5, F-104, F-100, Eurofighter, JAS 39, T-38, T-37, KT-1T, T-33, T-34, T-41, SF-260, G550, GULF-IV, CIT-VII, CN-235, KC-135, A400M, E-7T, UH-1H, AS-532, T-129 ATAK and HÜRKUŞ.
Awards and decorations
General Öztürk was awarded with NATO Medal, Turkish Armed Forces Distinguished Service Medal, Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Honor and Pakistan Nishan-e Imtiaz Medal.
Effective dates of promotion
| Rank | Date |
|---|---|
| General | August 30, 2013 |
| Lieutenant General | August 30, 2009 |
| Major General | August 30, 2004 |
| Brigadier General | August 30, 2000 |
| Colonel | August 30, 1994 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | August 30, 1991 |
| Major | August 30, 1986 |
| Captain | August 30, 1982 |
| First Lieutenant | August 30, 1976 |
| Second Lieutenant | August 30, 1973 |
References
- ^ "Who is General Akin Ozturk? Former air force commander reportedly behind Turkey coup attempt". Mirror UK. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ "Suspected Turkey Coup Leader Served as Military Attaché to Israel". Haaretz. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ "At least 1,563 pro-coup military personnel detained across Turkey". Daily Sabah. Istanbul. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ^ "Turkey: Mass arrests after coup bid quashed, says PM". BBC News. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
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