Major General Zenon BRZUSZKO, Ph.D.
Multinational Division North East Commander
Major General Zenon Brzuszko was born in 1970 in the Podkarpacie region. In 1994 he graduated from Military Academy of Mechanized Infantry in Wrocław in the faculty of reconnaissance. During 30 years of professional military service, he performed commanding, staff and operational duties at all levels in national and multinational military environment. He has begun his professional military service in the 120th Hussar Mechanized Regiment in Świętoszów as Platoon Leader and in the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade as Recce Company Commander.
He occupied the following positions:
- 10th and 14th Armored Cavalry Brigade as Recce Officer;
- General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Operational Department (P3) as Specialist;
- Commander of the Polish - Ukrainian Peacekeeping Battalion in Przemyśl;
- Commander of the 5th Podhale Riflemen Battalion;
- Deputy Commander of the 17th Wielkopolska Motorized Brigade;
- Commander of the 21st Podhale Riflemen Brigade;
- Commander of Lithuanian - Polish - Ukrainian Brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG).
The last three years he served as Polish National Military Representative to SHAPE in Mons (Belgium).
On the 3rd November 2021, MGEN Zenon Brzuszko assumed the duties of the Commander of the Multinational Division North East in Elbląg.
During his service in Polish General Staff he was deployed to USCENTCOM, Tampa Florida, and also gained operational and combat experience during service in the Polish Military Contingent in Iraq. As the Battalion Commander, he carried out the mission under the Kosovo Forces (KFOR) in Kosovo and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan (BCT “Alfa”).
Major General Zenon Brzuszko completed graduate and postgraduate studies at the National Defense University, Rzeszów University and participated in many courses in Poland and abroad. He is PhD in social sciences and an author of publications on the history of military and defense.
He is interested in history. Major General Zenon Brzuszko is married to Urszula. He has three children and bunch of grandchildren.
Major General Ireneusz Starzyński
Commander of the Air Operations Centre - Air Component Command
Major General Ireneusz Starzyński graduated with distinction from the Polish Air Force Academy in Dęblin in 1992. Upon graduation, he was delegated to serve as a flight pilot in the 40th Fighter Bomber Air Regiment in Świdwin where he assumed the post of a senior pilot in 1993. In 1996, having completed a specialized Military Training Officer Course, he was appointed as the Flight Commander. Afterwards, he was promoted to the position of the Deputy Commander of the 40th Fighter Bomber Regiment.
From 2000 to 2002, Major General Ireneusz Starzyński was a student of the National Defence Academy in Warsaw at the Faculty of Aviation and Air Defence. Upon graduation, he assumed the post of the Chief of Staff of the 8th Tactical Squadron in Mirosławiec. Having completed his Postgraduate Studies at the National Defence Academy from 2004 to 2005, he was appointed first as the Deputy Commander and in 2006 as the Commander of the 8th Tactical Squadron in Mirosławiec. From 2007 to 2008, Major General Ireneusz Starzyński completed Postgraduate Operational-Strategic Studies at the National Defence Academy. In recognition of his outstanding service as the Commander of the 21st Tactical Air Base in Świdwin, he was delegated to complete Postgraduate Defense Policy Studies at the Air War College (Maxwell, Alabama, USA) from 2015 to 2016. In accordance with the Decision of the Minister of National Defence he was appointed to the post of Commander of the 1st Tactical Air Wing on 11 January 2017. On 10 November 2018, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General by the President of the Republic of Poland – Andrzej Duda.
On February 2019 he took over the duties as the Deputy Commander of the Air Operations Centre - Air Component Command in Warsaw.
On February 2020 he took over the duties as the Commander of the Air Operations Centre - Air Component Command in Warsaw.
On 14 August 2020, he was promoted to the rank of Major General by the President of the Republic of Poland.
Major General Ireneusz Starzyński is a master class instructor pilot. He has reached a total of 2200 flight hours. He has taught a few generations of Su-22 pilots and has taken part in several national and international military exercises.
Major General Cezary WIŚNIEWSKI
Deputy General Commander of the Polish Armed Forces
A graduate of the Polish Air Force University (1991) and the Pedagogical University (1997). In 2001 he graduated from the National Defence University of Warsaw. Then, he completed foreign courses (Squadron Officer Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, USA – 2003, COMAO Course, TLP Florenns, Belgium – 2008).
In 2009, he completed postgraduate studies in Foreign and International Service at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, in 2014 he graduated from the Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College at the United States Air Force University, Maxwell AFB, USA. Awarded with many medals and decorations and an entry in the "Honorary Book of the Minister of National Defense". He performed important functions, including the function of the Head of the Air Safety Inspectorate of the Ministry of National Defense – Chairman of the State Aviation Accident Investigation Committee (2016), Air Force Inspector (2016-2017) and the position of defense attaché in the USA (2017-2021).
Brigadier General Kazimierz DYŃSKI
Air and Missile Defence Division Chief – Deputy Combat Service Support Inspector
Kazimierz Dyński was born September 27, 1964 in Chełm. He is graduated from the Secondary of Avation School in Zielona Góra (1983). In 1987 he earned his commission from the Radar Engineering Military School and promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant. He successfully accomplished studies at the National Defence University (1996), post diploma studies (1999). In 2004 he accomplished studies at the Air War College Maxwell – USA with a Master of Strategic Studies diploma.
Brigadier General Dyński started his military career in 26th Air Defence Brigade as targeting officer, platoon, radar battery and SAM Combat Team commander. After graduation from the National Defence University in Warsaw, he started staff duties at the Polish Air Force Headquarters ranging from staff officer up to A3 Chief of the Operational Division. He served as A7 Training Division Chief at the NATO Air Component Command Ramstein (2006-2009). He had also served as a National Representative to the BOD of NATO AWACS Programme Management Organisation (2009-2011).
Brigadier General Dyński also had served as J7 Deputy Division Chief in the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces (2010-2011), Deputy Chief of Staff - J3 Division Chief of the General Command of the Polish Armed Forces (2013-2016 and 2018-2020)
and Director of the National Military Standardization Committee (2015-2016). He was the Director of the Air Show Radom for 2017 and 2018.
On June 1, 2020 he assumed command of the 3rd Air Defence Brigade.
On August 14, 2020 he was promoted to Brigadier General. Since November 15, 2023 Brigadier General Dynski has assumed Air and Missile Defence Division Chief – Deputy Combat Service Support Inspector position in the General Command of the Polish Armed Forces HQ.
Brig. Gen. Dyński and his wife Anna have two sons: Piotr (35) and Jakub (25).
Colonel Associate Professor Jan FARLIK, Ph.D.
was born in 1975. He graduated from Military Academy in Brno in the branch of automated systems of command and control with specialization to air defence systems. He worked at Control and Reporting Centre in Czech Republic as ID officer, SAM allocator, deputy chief of A3 section, etc. Then he joint University of Defence as lecturer and scientist in the field of air defence systems. Now, he is Head of Air Defence Department as well as Vice-Dean for public relations and development of Faculty of Military Technology at University of Defence. His area of expertise stands of C-UAS systems, air forces C2 systems and algorithmization of C2 processes in virtual environment.
Colonel Associate Professor Laurian GHERMAN, Ph.D.
was born on January 10th, 1972, in Hunedoara, Romania. At the age of 14 he started his military career at the Military High School "Stefan cel Mare" in Campulung Moldovenesc. After graduating from the military high school, he attended the courses of the Institute of Artillery and Anti-aircraft Missiles "General Bungescu" in Brasov in the specialty of artillery and anti-aircraft missiles. After graduation for 9 years, he performs functions in operational units of both anti-aircraft artillery and surface to air missiles. At the same time, he continued his studies in civil universities, obtaining the title of diplomat engineer in electromechanical engineering at the Politehnica University of Timisoara and the title of Doctor of Industrial Engineering at the Transilvania University of Brasov. Since 2008 he has been dedicated to his teaching career at the 'Henri Coanda' Air Force Academy in Brasov. His didactic activity is complemented by the research he does in the field of electromagnetic guns and electronic warfare. He publishes numerous articles and books in prestigious journals but also in the proceedings of international conferences. He is invited as keynote speaker to international conferences in the field of integrated air defense and missiles, but also as a visiting professor at important universities in the field. He is married and has a child.
Colonel Michał MARCINIAK, Ph.D.
is a graduate of the Armament and Aerospace Department at the Military University of Technology. He majored in mechatronics, with a specialization in aircraft and helicopter equipment.
In 2000, he began his professional service as a military aircraft flight maintenance engineer in the 36th Special Transport Aviation Regiment. In the following years, he carried out service tasks as the flight commander, service chief, and section chief. From 2008 to 2010, he served in the Armed Forces Supply Department as a Foreign Service Branch Senior Specialist. When the Armament Inspectorate was established, Col. Marciniak joined in and worked there as Head of the Armament Programs Division and Deputy Head of the Aviation Technology Headquarters.
From 2017 to 2021, he served as the Minister of Defense Plenipotentiary for the Acquisition and Deployment of the WISŁA System for the Polish Armed Forces.
On January 1, 2022, by the decision of the Minister of Defense, he was appointed Deputy Head of the Armament Agency and, at the same time Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Defense for the Construction of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense System.
During his military service, he has systematically improved his professional qualifications on account of several specialized courses and training, including a postgraduate degree in Aviation Management from the Polish National Defense Academy and a course at the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management in the United States. In addition, in 2019, he received a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering in aviation technology operation.
He was awarded the Gold “Medal of Merit for National Defense” and the Silver “Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland” for excellently carrying out his professional duties.
Paweł BERNAT, Ph.D.
is a Senior Lecturer at the Polish Air Force University. His research interests focus on strategic and tactical aspects of outer space, with a special focus on the militarization and weaponization of Earth’s orbit, the Russian Federation’s space sector, space terrorism, and proxy and hybrid warfare, especially in Eastern Europe.
His newest book, “Proxy Wars From A Global Perspective: Non-State Actors And Armed Conflicts” (London: Bloomsbury, 2023; ed.), analyzes contemporary proxy wars and the evolution of the phenomenon during the last two decades.
He is a co-founder and Vice President of Andarta Education for Security Foundation, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the “Safety & Defense” academic journal, and a member of the Polish Space Professionals Association. He closely cooperates with the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies – a training center of the US Department of Defense (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany) and International Space University (Strasburg, France).
Eugeniusz CIEŚLAK, Col (ret) Ph.D.
has been working as the director of the Higher Command Studies Course and Senior Leaders’ Course at the Baltic Defence College in Tartu, Estonia. He was a university professor at the Academy of National Defence in Warsaw, the Air Force Academy in Dęblin and the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce, Poland. A graduate of the Air Force Academy in Dęblin, Poland (1988), the National Defence University in Warsaw, Poland (1995) and the Air War College, USA (2012). He earned a doctoral degree and a postdoctoral degree at the Academy of National Defence in Warszawa in the field of military sciences. His military career in the Polish Air Force included staff and academic assignments until 2018. He served as the Director of the Air Force Institute at the Academy of National Defence in Warsaw, Poland between 2008 and 2016. His research interests include state’s security and defence policy, air operations and air defence. He was involved in a number of research and development programmes tied to modernization of Polish air defence system since 2006. The main focus of his contributions was on operational aspects of air defence and employment of Surface Based Air Defences.
Tomasz SMURA, Ph.D.
is Member of the Board and Director of Research Office at the Casimir Pulaski Foundation Warsaw-based think tank focused on international politics and security as well as the Director of Defense Track of the Warsaw Security Forum. Tomasz defended his PhD thesis at University of Warsaw and is a graduate of the Institute of International Relations of UW. He previously studied also at the University of Nottingham. His doctoral dissertation concerned the development of the system of balance of power in East Asia and his research interests include security in Transatlantic and East Asia areas, US foreign and security policy and military technologies. Tomasz Smura has been awarded a scholarship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, has worked as a Director of Strategy and International Cooperation Office at the strategic state-owned copany and has taken analytical internships at, amongst others, the Department of Strategy and Planning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Polish Institute for International Affairs.