Brigadier General Avraam Kazantzoglou joined the Hellenic Air Force in 1988. Post Air Force Academy education, training (military, academic and flying), and Fast Jet basic and operational training, he was assigned to 117 Combat Wing, Andravida Air Force Base. After successfully completing the transition training in the F-4E Phantom II, he qualified and flew for three years as co-pilot in the 338 Strike Squadron “ARIS”, nick-named after the ancient Greek god of war. In 1997 he was selected to undergo training as a front seat pilot in the mighty Phantom and, having completed this, passed through all the hierarchical positions in 338 Squadronn (force/COMAO leader, instructor pilot, test pilot), closing the first chapter in 2005, where he was appointed as Base Standarisation Evaluation officer.
In 2006, he was selected to deeply dive into the academics and was sent to the United States for University postgraduate studies, in the US Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California. In 2008 he completed his studies there, leaving US NPS with a Master of Science in Systems’ Engineering (specializing in Electronic Warfare) and a second degree done in parallel: Master of Arts in National Security Affairs (Post Conflict Reconstruction track).
In 2008, right after returning home from across the pond, he served for two years in the Hellenic Tactical Air Force HQ, in Larissa in the Operations Branch. In 2010 he returned back to Andravida AFB for another four-year tour, ending in Commanding the 338 Strike Squadron “ARIS” for two years (2012-2014). Next year he attended the National Joint Supreme War College in Thessaloniki (in parallel he studied and completed a Master of Arts in International Relations in University of Thessaloniki) and, right after, he was selected for transferring abroad, staffing a NATO position in Combined Air Operations Centre Torrejon, until 2018. In the meantime he went through National Defence College training, which he successfully completed (DL) and graduated in 2017 as well as numerous NATO courses, with Oberammergau Course and CASPOA Q3 Leadership course being the most interesting as well as rewarding ones.
Upon returning to Greece, took office at the NATO desk in the Defence Policy Directorate in the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, where he stayed for two years. It was in 2020 when he was selected to become initially Deputy Commander (2020-2022) and subsequently Base Commander (2022-2023) of the 117 Combat Wing, Andravida AFB.
In 2023 he was transferred to Athens and became the Head of the Multinational Operations Directorate in the Hellenic National Defence General Staff Ops Branch, where he ended up dealing with multinational initiatives and operations under his direct responsibility.
In May 2024 Brigadier Kazantzoglou was selected to become the CAOC Torrejon Deputy Commander.
(Biography current as of August 2024)