Lieutenant General Athanasios Garinis was born in Katerini. He joined the Hellenic Military Academy in 1984 and graduated in 1988 as an Armored Lieutenant.

He has attended and was graduated from all mandatory Armored courses, Supreme Joint War College and College of National Defense. He was honored with all the decorations, medals and commemorations. He holds a master’s degree in Plymouth University in Applied Strategy and International Security.

During his career he served in Armor Units, Commander of 21st Medium Tank Battalion (Alexandroupolis) and 957 Military Police Battalion (Thessaloniki).

He has served as Staff Officer in HQ NRDC-IT in Milan, Ops Director of XXV Armored Brigade, Logistics Director of XXIII Armored Brigade, DACOS in G5 Deputy Director of NRDC-GR, Deputy Commander of 31st Mechanized Brigade and Deputy Director of Plans and Training of the Hellenic Army General Staff.
He was promoted to Brigadier General in 2019 and assumed the Command of XXIII Armored Brigade. In 2020 he was appointed as Director of Defence Planning of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff.

In 2022 he was promoted to Major General and appointed as the Commander of XX Armored Division. In March 2023 he was assigned the duties of Director of the Armored Cavalry Directorate of the Hellenic Army General Staff.

On 13th January 2024, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed as Commander of C΄ Army Corps/NRDC-GREECE.

He is fluent in the English Language.

Lieutenant General Athanasios Garinis is married and he has two daughters.