JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has appointed Lieutenant General Budiman as new Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) replacing General Moeldoko, who will be soon sworn in as new Commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI).
The appointment of Budiman has been conveyed by Sudi Silalahi, Minister of State Secretary, in Jakarta Thursday (Aug 29). According to Sudi, Budiman will be sworn in Friday (Aug 30) at the State Palace.
Budiman currently serves as Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense. Born in September 25, 1956, Budiman was graduated from the Military Academy in 1978. He received the Adi Makayasa medal as the best graduate.
Previously, Budiman also held several strategic positions in the army such as Vice Army Chief of Staff, Commander of the Military Education and Training Command (Kodiklat), Military Secretary of President SBY, and Commander of Military Area IV (Pangdam) Diponegoro.
Moeldoko, meanwhile, as scheduled, will be sworn in as new Commander of the military on September 4, 2013 replacing Admiral Agus Suhartono, who enters his mandatory retirement age. As reported earlier, Moeldoko, the sole candidate for the Commander of military, has easily passed the fit & proper test held by the House of Representatives (DPR). (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)