Lieutenant General Petros Demestichas was born on the 6th of November in 1963 in Piraeus. He was admitted to the Hellenic Military Academy (Evelpidon) in 1981 and graduated in 1985 as Infantry 2nd Lieutenant.

As junior Officer, he served in Special Forces Units as Platoon Leader and Company Commander.

He has attended all required Infantry and Special Forces Schools. He is a graduate of the Underwater Demolition School and the USA Special Forces School Officers Qualification Course.

In 1998, he attended the Hellenic Army War College.

As a senior Officer he served in the 32 Marine Brigade “MORAVAS”, while in 2000 he was assigned as Commander of the Special Parachutists Unit.

In 2001, he served as Training Officer/Deputy Commander of the International Special Training Centre, in Germany.

In 2004, he was assigned as Commander of the Unconventional Warfare Training Centre and in 2006 he served as Commander of the 2nd Para Battalion.

Following this, in 2008 he was assigned as Chef-of-Staff in 13 Special Operations Command “IEROS LOCHOS”.

Upon being promoted to Colonel in 2010, he attended the National Defense College and at the end of his studies he was assigned to the 13 Special Operations Command “IEROS LOCHOS” as Deputy Commander.

In 2012, he was assigned as Director of Management at the NATO Allied Land Command, in Turkey.

In 2013, he was promoted to Brigadier General and upon his return to Greece, he was appointed as Director of the HNDGS Defense Policy Directorate.

In 2015, he was assigned as Commander of the 71 Airborne Brigade “PONTOS”.

In 2017, having been promoted to Major General, he was assigned as Chief-of-Staff / Deputy Commander of the Hellenic 1st Army/EU-OHQ “ACHILLEAS” and in 2018 as Commander of the I Infantry Division “SMYRNI”.

In 2019, he was assigned as Chief-of-Staff of the HNDGS.

On 09 March 2020, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and assigned as Commander of the Higher Military Command of Interior and Islands “AIGEAS”.

On 2 March 2021, upon decision of the Hellenic Government Council of Foreign Affairs and Defence, he was assigned as Commander of the Hellenic 1st Army/EU-OHQ.

On 9 March 2022, following a decision by the Hellenic Government Council of Foreign Affairs and Defence, Lieutenant General Petros Demestichas was appointed as Greece's Military Representative at NATO Military Committee.

Lieutenant General Petros Demestichas has been awarded all decorations, commendations and medals provided for his rank.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Athens University of Economics and Business and a Master’s Degree in Applied Strategy and International Security from the University of Plymouth, England.

He is a fluent speaker of English and has a working knowledge of German.

General Petros Demestichas is married to Mrs. Evgenia Vasileiadou and has three daughters.