Hilmi Özkök

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Hilmi Özkök (born August 4, 1940, in Turgutlu, Manisa) is a Turkish general who served as the 24th Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces from August 28, 2002, to August 30, 2006. A career soldier, he studied at Işıklar Military High School, the Turkish Military Academy, the Army War College, and the NATO Defense College. He held numerous artillery commands, worked in planning and operations at the General Staff, and rose through the ranks to lead larger formations. Özkök commanded the 70th Infantry Brigade and the 28th Infantry Division, served as deputy chief of the General Staff, and later commanded the First Army in Istanbul before becoming commander of the Turkish Army in 2002, succeeding Hüseyin Kıvrıkoğlu, and then its chief in 2002. As chief, he opposed coup plans by peers and supported Turkey’s integration with the European Union, while seeking a reduced role for the National Security Council. He retired in 2006 and was succeeded by Yaşar Büyükanıt. Özkök is married to Özenç Özkök and has two children; in retirement he pursues photography and poetry.