Gürsel Tokmakoğlu

Gürsel Tokmakoğlu is a Turkish strategist and geopolitics expert, and a former Turkish Air Force intelligence officer. Rated at the highest level throughout his career, he was consulted by senior commanders as a strategic adviser.

1. 1961

   Born in Çan, Çanakkale

2. 1982

   Turkish Air Force Academy

   Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

3. 1983

   Armed Forces Intelligence School

   Military intelligence posts at home and abroad from then on. A Cold War specialist: studies on nuclear weapons employment, confidence- and security-building measures and disarmament under NATO's Partnership for Peace and the OSCE, arms control verification missions in the Soviet era, and studies on the South Caucasus. On active duty in both Gulf Wars as an Iraq specialist, on the team that would have directed the war with the decision-makers had Türkiye entered it. He followed the US development of the TBMCS battle management system and deepened the Air Force's work on information systems.

4. 1988-1993

   Instructor, Intelligence School

   Tasked by the high command with reforming intelligence training. After technical teacher training he developed the curricula and wrote the concept and operational intelligence textbooks, later used by other units and schools.

5. 1995

   Air War College

   Thesis on the use of operational research in intelligence, arguing for a more scientific approach to war. Later the Armed Forces Academy.

6. 1995-1999

   Head of Intelligence, 2nd Air Force Command, Diyarbakır

   Counter-terrorism and internal security. From 1996 he helped change the tactical concept of the major operations in northern Iraq, and developed an original system for using air power in special forces operations in difficult terrain and threat conditions, linking reconnaissance, surveillance and decision. He wrote an intelligence assessment of Syria that set out early strategies of strategic pressure, which later informed Türkiye's policy.

7. ·

   NATO service, Italy

   Head of the Targeting Branch at 5th ATAF Headquarters in the Bosnia and Kosovo operations; worked for the Turkish Air Force's move from air defence patrols over Bosnia to offensive missions over Kosovo. Awarded the NATO Medal. Worked on Air Force information systems, including with Lockheed Martin.

8. 2001-2002

   Commander, Air Force Intelligence School

   Turned a department into an independent school and opened it to NATO and the other services, with new courses. Had military students trained in international relations. Before his posting abroad he wrote the Air Force intelligence vision, which is still in use.

9. 2002-2004

   Military Attaché to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan

   Founded the Asia Platform in Almaty. Field studies in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and in the Caspian, Semey and Aral regions; studied China's military capabilities, above all UAVs and missiles. Worked on Caspian security and contributed to the founding of Kazakhstan's Bautino naval port, Aktau naval base and Naval Academy, and supported the founding of a special forces unit in Almaty. Supported NATO's Afghanistan mission from Central Asia and contributed to the work of the OSCE and the NPT regime in the region.

10. 2006-2007

    Head of the Air Force Intelligence Department

    Embedded the intelligence vision he had written and pursued new surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities: sensors, satellites, UAVs, and decision and coordination systems. Retired in 2007.

11. 2007-2017

    Senior private-sector roles

    Construction and tourism, in Türkiye and abroad. In the same years he published six books of poetry and philosophy (2010-2013).

12. 2017

    Turned to strategy and security commentary

    The Politik Merkez column, and the start of the television work. Later an observer with Turkish forces in the Syria operations, including Peace Spring and Spring Shield.