BIO

Graduated from the Higher School of Officers of the Mechanized Forces (1986), from which he graduated with honors. In 1989, he graduated from the Officer Training Center, the so-called „Field Academy,” for battalion commanders. From 1992 to 1993, he continued his studies at the National Defense Academy in Rembertów. There he also completed a tactical-operational course (1998). In 2000, he received a diploma from the Defense Policy Study, defending a thesis on „Professional armed forces as a fundamental factor in national security.” In 2011, he earned a doctorate in defense science.

He began his military service after graduation in the 42nd Mechanized Regiment as a platoon commander in Zary (1986-1987). He then served as commander of a training company preparing command cadres of the Silesian Military District in the same regiment (1987-1989). He moved on to the role of commander of a mechanized company in the same regiment (1989-1990), after which he became chief of staff of the training battalion (1990-1991). The next stage of his career was commanding the 2nd Mechanized Battalion (1991-1992) and serving as senior operations officer on the staff of the 42nd Mechanized Regiment (1993-1994).

In 2008, he was appointed deputy head of the P-5 Strategic Planning Board of the Polish Army General Staff. In August 2009, he took command of the 11th Armored Cavalry Division and was appointed Major General. In 2010, the EU Battle Group, formed on the basis of the 17th WBZ and units of the Division, was the first combat unit declared by Poland to the European Union forces. In 2010-2011, the Black Division prepared and deployed to Afghanistan successively the VIII and IX change of the PKW, where nearly 3,000 soldiers served in ISAF.

In 2012-2013, he headed the Department of Defense Strategy and Planning at the Ministry of Defense and participated in the work of the inter-ministerial Coordination Team at the Ministry of Regional Development. He served as a plenipotentiary of the Ministry of Defense for the reform of the system of management, direction and command of the Armed Forces, and his Department issued the National Security System Development Strategy approved by the Council of Ministers.

He led the work of the Team preparing the Law Amending the Law on the Office of the Ministry of Defense, approved by Parliament and signed by the Superior of the Armed Forces, the President of Poland, on July 22, 2013. He commanded the Organizational Group of the General Command of the Armed Forces, creating the conditions for the establishment of the General Command of the Armed Forces from January 2014.

As a result of a difference of opinion with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense about the future of the Polish Armed Forces, he ended his military service. After leaving the army, he founded the STRATPOINTS Foundation for Security and Development, of which he is the founder. The foundation runs assistance programs for veterans, and its experts are an independent voice in the security field.

He was elected to the Upper House of Parliament in 2023. The senator chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense.

During his service, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Military Cross of Merit with Swords, the Cross of Merit of the Republic of Poland, the Medal for Merit for National Defense, the Armed Forces in Service to the Fatherland Medal, the Iraqi Star, and the Medal of Honor of the International Center South Division. During his mission in Iraq, he was awarded the Medal of Merit by the President of El Salvador. Three times in 2006, 2007 and 2008, the unit he commanded was awarded the Mark of Honor of the Armed Forces. In 2008, the President of the Republic presented him with the National Flag in recognition of his service. He is also a recipient of the 2008 Mace Award.

He is married and has three children. In his free time, he travels, skis and rides a motorcycle, swims and spends time in the woods, preferring an active lifestyle.

Military service:
1986-1987 – platoon commander in the 42nd Mechanized Regiment in Zary
1987-1989 – commander of a training company preparing for the needs of the
Silesian Military District squad leaders and gunners
operators of infantry fighting vehicles in the 42nd Mechanized Regiment in
Żary
1989-1990 – commander of a mechanized company in the 42nd Mechanized Regiment
Mechanized Regiment in Żary
1990-1991 – chief of staff of a training battalion in the 42nd Mechanized Regiment
Mechanized Regiment in Zary
1991-1992 – commander of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion in the 42nd Mechanized Regiment
Mechanized Regiment in Żary
1993-1994 – senior operations officer on the staff of the 42nd Mechanized Regiment
Mechanized Regiment in Żary
1994-1995 – apprenticeship in the Combat Training Unit of the Silesian Military District
Military District in Wroclaw
1995-1996 – chief of training at the 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade in Żagań
1996-1999 – chief of staff in the 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade in Żagań
1999-2003 – commander of the 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade in
Międzyrzecz
2003-2005 – chief of staff at the command of the 11th Armored Cavalry Division in
Żagań
2005-2008 – commander of the 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade in
Miedzyrzecz
2007 – commander of the Brigade Combat Group as part of the 8th shift of the PKW Irak
2008-2009 – deputy head of the P-5 Strategic Planning Board at the
General Staff in Warsaw
2009-2011 – commander of the 11th Armored Cavalry Division in Żagań
2012-2013 – Director of the Department of Defense Strategy and Planning
MON
2014 – Counselor Coordinator of the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defense.
2015-2017 – Commander General of the Armed Forces.