Josip Lucić | |
|---|---|
 Lucić on 7 April 2009 | |
| Born | (1957-04-26)26 April 1957 (age 68) |
| Allegiance |  Croatia |
| Branch |  Croatian Army |
| Years of service | 1990–2011 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | 1st Guards Brigade "Tigers" General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces |
| Battles / wars | Croatian War of Independence |
| Awards | Grand Order of King Petar Krešimir IV Legion of Merit |
Josip Lucić (born 26 April 1957) is aCroatian general and former chief ofGeneral Staff of theArmed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.
Lucić was born inPosavski Podgajci nearDrenovci on 26 April 1957. He finished elementary and high school inZagreb. In 1984 he graduated at Faculty ofKinesiology ofUniversity of Zagreb, and in 1988 he became master of kinesiology.
In November 1990, Lucić voluntarily joined the units of the Croatian Ministry of Interior, where he became the Deputy Commander of the Special Battalion "Rakitje" and later Commander of the same battalion. He was also involved in the formation of an anti-terrorist police battalion. From May to December 1991, he was the Commander of1st Guards Brigade "Tigers". As a Commander of the 1stCroatian National Guard brigade he participated in forming of second, third and fourth professional brigades of the National Guard. He was also involved in the formation of a mountain brigade, a company for alpine training, orientations, sky and mountain guides.[1] As a Commander of the 1st Brigade he stopped the advance of theYugoslav People's Army in the direction ofStara Gradiška-Okučani, and the forming of a defense line in front ofNovska.
From December 1991 to April 1992, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff of theCroatian Army and he also participated in the process of organizing and training of theCroatian Army. From April to June 1992, he was the Commander of Military DistrictOsijek. After the signing of a ceasefire treaty, he secured conditions for peace in EasternSlavonia. Conditions for the arrival ofUNTAES were also secured under his command. From June to December 1992, he was the Deputy Minister and Chief of the Personnel Department of theMinistry of Defence of Republic of Croatia. From December 1992 to March 1996, Lucić served as the Chief Inspector at the General Inspectorate of the Ministry of Defense. In February 1996, he became the Chief of the Military Academy "Petar Zrinski" inKarlovac.
On 20 November 2000, he became the Deputy Chief of theGeneral Staff of Armed Forces. On 16 January 2003, he was named Chief of theGeneral Staff by commander-in-chief of Armed Forces of Croatia andPresident of CroatiaStjepan Mesić. On 16 January 2008, his five-year mandate expired and he was formally relieved of his duties. On 28 February 2008, he was named, once again, Chief of General Staff, thereby becoming the first Croatian general to serve in this capacity more than once. On 1 March 2011, he was once again relieved of his duties.
General Lucić is married and has two sons.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chief of the General Staff of theCroatian Armed Forces 16 January 2003 – 16 January 2008 | Succeeded by Slavko Barić (acting) |
| Preceded by Slavko Barić (acting) | Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces 28 February 2008 – 1 March 2011 | Succeeded by |
|  | |
*Acting Chief | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
