JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has appointed Lt. Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo as new Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) replacing Gen. Budiman, who will soon enter into his mandatory retirement age on September 25, 2014.

Spokesperson of the military headquarters Maj. Gen. Fuad Basya, as published at Cabinet Secretariat’s official website (www.setkab.go.id), stated that the presidential decree No. 36/TNI/2014 regarding the appointment of Gatot Nurmantyo as the new Army Chief of Staff was already signed by the president on July 21, 2014.

Separately, the Military Commander Ge. Moeldoko added that Gatot will be sworn in tomorrow (July 24) at the State Palace Jakarta.

Gatot currently serves as the Army’s Strategic Reserve Commander (Pangkostrad), a position that he hold since June 5, 2013.

The three star general was born in Tegal, Central Java, on March 13, 1960. He graduated from the Military Academy (Akmil) in 1982.

Gatot had ever served as Governor of the Military Academy from 2009 to 2010 before promoted as Regional Military Commander (Pangdam) V/Brawijaya (2010-2011).

He now also serves as Chairman of the Indonesian Karate-Do Federation (FORKI) for the 2014-2018 period. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)