Brigadier General Tomasz Lenart is the Deputy Commander, Combined Air Operations Centre, headquartered at Uedem, Germany.
In his capacity as Deputy Commander CAOC Uedem, Brigadier General Tomasz Lenart’s primary responsibility is to assist and advise the Commander on all aspects of the command function and to deputize for the COM when delegated. He holds full responsibility for NATO tasks during the COM’s absence when delegated by COM.
Brigadier General Tomasz Lenart has over three decades of experience in air defense operations and multinational military cooperation, with a distinguished career in both national and NATO roles.
After graduating from the Military Academy of Radio-engineering in 1990, his military journey began as a Missile Control Officer with the 23rd Surface-Based Air Defense (SBAD) Squadron in Gdansk, Poland. He quickly rose through the ranks, being promoted to Low-Frequency Platoon Commander, and later, to Battery Commander. By 1999, he had advanced to the position of Deputy Squadron Commander.
From 2000 to 2003, Brigadier General Lenart took on his first NATO assignment as an Operations Training Officer at the Combined Air Operations Centre 2 in Kalkar, Germany. After completing this tour, he returned to Poland, where he served as the Training & Exercise
Specialist at the Air Operations Centre in Warsaw. His exceptional performance led to his promotion to Training & Exercise Branch Chief in 2005.
From 2007 to 2010, Brigadier General Lenart was assigned to NATO’s Airborne Early Warning & Control Force Command in Mons, Belgium. During this time, he contributed to key operations, including AWACS Counter Piracy – Ocean Shield in the Indian Ocean, AWACS Counter- Terrorist Operations – Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean, and the preparation for AWACS Afghan Assist Operations. He participated in numerous AWACS missions, including high visibility events such as the NATO Summit (2008) and Operation Active Endeavour (2010).
Between 2010 and 2012, Brigadier General Lenart served as a Senior Specialist and Branch Chief at Polish Air Force Command. In 2011, he was deployed to Italy as the Chief of the Mission Analysis Branch for NATO’s Unified Protector Operation, for which he was awarded the NATO Operation Unified Protector (OUP) Medal.
From 2012 to 2016, he held the role of Duty Air Defence Commander at the Air Operations Centre in Warsaw. In 2016, he was appointed Chief of the Tactical Operations Centre, where he played a pivotal role in NATO and Polish operations, including the evacuation mission from Afghanistan. During this period, he also led Poland's support for the United States Air Forces in Europe following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ensuring seamless integration of the 606th Air Control Squadron into Poland’s command and control infrastructure. His leadership
facilitated the deployment of U.S. and Marine Corps fighter aircraft to Lask Air Base, securing NATO’s eastern flank and deterring Russian aggression.
In 2023, Brigadier General Lenart was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff Operations at the Air Operations Centre, Air Component Command, Warsaw. In this role, he oversees national and NATO air operations, including air policing, air and ballistic missile defense, and crisis response
operations. His responsibilities also include enhancing NATO’s Air Defence System and planning for national and coalition Integrated Air and Missile Defence for Polish and NATO territories.
Brigadier General Tomasz Lenart's expertise in air defense and multinational military coordination has consistently contributed to Poland’s national security and NATO’s collective defense efforts.
In 2024, Brigadier General Lenart assumed the responsibility of Deputy Commander, Combined Air Operations Centre, headquartered at Uedem, Germany.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. 1986 – 1990, Student, Military Academy of Radioengineering, Jelenia Gora, Poland.
2. 1990 – 1993, Fire Control Officer, 23rd Surface Based Air Defence Squadron, Gdansk, Poland.
3. 1993 – 1995, Platoon Leader, 23rd Surface Based Air Defence Squadron, Gdansk, Poland.
4. 1995 – 1997, Battery Commander, 23rd Surface Based Air Defence Squadron, Gdansk, Poland.
5. 1996 – 1998, Master Degree Studies, Marketing & Management, National Defence Academy, Warsaw, Poland.
6. 1999 – 1999, Deputy Squadron Commander, 23rd Surface Based Air Defence Squadron, Gdansk, Poland.
7. 1999 – 2000, Deputy Squadron Commander, 21st Surface Based Air Defence Squadron, Puck, Poland.
8. 2000 – 2003, Staff Officer, Operations Training and Exercise, CAOC 2, Kalkar, Germany.
9. 2003 – 2006, Staff Officer, Training and Exercise, Air Operations Center, Warsaw, Poland.
10. 2004 – 2005, Postgraduate Studies, Management and Law Academy, Warsaw, Poland.
11. 2006 – 2007, Branch Chief, Training and Exercise, Air Operations Center, Warsaw, Poland.
12. 2007 – 2010, Branch Chief, Operations Division, NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force Command, Mons, Belgium.
13. 2010 – 2012, Branch Chief, POL Air Force Command, Warsaw, Poland.
14. 2012 – 2016, Duty Air Defence Commander, Air Operations Center, Air Component Command, Warsaw, Poland.
15. 2016 – 2023, Chief Tactical Operations Centre, Air Operations Center, Air Component Command, Warsaw, Poland.
16. 2022 – 2023, Postgraduate Studies in Defence Policy, War Studies University, Warsaw, Poland.
17. 2023-2024, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Air Operations Center, Air Component Command Warsaw, Poland.
18. 2024 – present, Deputy Commander, Combined Air Operations Center Uedem, Uedem, Germany.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
U.S. Meritorious Service Medal
NATO Operation Unified Protector (OUP) Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
1994 First Lieutenant (OF-1)
1998 Captain (OF-2)
2004 Major (OF-3)
2005 Lieutenant Colonel (OF-4)
2012 Colonel (OF-5)
2024 Brigadier General (OF-6)
(Biography current as of November 2024)