ADMIRAL UĞUR YİĞİT
COMMANDER OF THE TURKISH NAVAL FORCES

    Admiral Uğur YİĞİT was born in İstanbul in 1945. On completion of his elementary education in İstanbul, he entered the Naval High School in 1959 and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1964.

    Having served on board various ships as a division officer and department head, Admiral YİĞİT attended Naval War College between 1975-1977. Upon his graduation as a Staff Officer, he assumed the duties of; Project Officer for Plans at the Operations Division, Turkish Naval Forces Command HQ, Chief of Operations Branch at the Mine Group Command, Executive Officer on board TCG MUAVENET, Chief of Structure and Organization Branch at the Operations Division, Turkish Naval Forces Command HQ. Upon completion of his term as Operations Planning Officer at NAVSOUTH NATO HQ in Naples/Italy between 1982-1985, Admiral YİĞİT was appointed as the Commanding Officer of TCG YÜCETEPE between 1985-1986.

    Having served as Chief of Plans Branch at Turkish Naval Forces Command HQ between 1986-1989, he was assigned as the Chief of Staff at Surface Action Group Command between 1989-1990, later assumed the duty of Commodore, Destroyer Division-II between 1990-1991 and Head of Operations Division at the Turkish Fleet Command between 1991-1992.

    Admiral YİĞİT was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral (LH) in 1992. He was then appointed as the Superintendent of the Naval Academy between 1992-1994, later assumed the duty of Head of Plans and Policy Division, NAVSOUTH NATO HQ in Naples/Italy between 1994-1996. Having completed his term in Italy, he became the Commander of Çanakkale Strait in 1996.

    Admiral YİĞİT was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral (UH) in 1997, after which he was appointed as Head of Logistics Division, Turkish Naval Forces Command HQ between 1997-1999. He later commanded the Mine Group between 1999-2001 and became the Head of Inspection and Evaluation Division, Turkish Naval Forces Command HQ between 2001-2002.

    He was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral in 2002. Following his promotion, he was appointed to become the Chief of Staff, Turkish Naval Forces Command HQ between 2003-2005 and the Commander of the Turkish Northern Sea Area between 2005-2007.

    Upon his promotion to the rank of Admiral on August 30th, 2007, he commanded the Turkish Fleet between 2007-2009.

    Admiral Uğur YİĞİT became the 23rd Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces on August 26th, 2009.

    His decorations include Turkish Armed Forces Distinguished Service Medal, Turkish Armed Forces Honour Medal, NATO Medal (Former Yugoslavia) and West European Union Mission Service Medal (Ex-Yugoslavia).

    Admiral YİĞİT is married to Mrs. Pınar YİĞİT and they have a daughter named Sibel and a son named Tolga.