Brigadier General Zdravko Popovski, assumed duty as the 7th Commander of the Multinational Peace Forces South-Eastern Europe (SEEBRIG) on 14 July 2011.
Brigadier General Popovski attended the Military Academy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, graduating in 1981 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Military Command Duties with commission in Infantry. Since his commissioning, BG Popovski has commanded units at every echelon from platoon to brigade level and has served in variety of staff positions and military diplomatic assignments, and completed two combat tours of duty, during the civil war in former Yugoslavia and during crises response operations against terrorism in 2001 in his country.
Leadership positions include Commander, 3rd Border Battalion, II Army Corps, July 1994 – August 1998; and Commander, 13th Infantry Brigade, Kichevo, July 2000-October 2001. Army staff assignments include Chief of Brigade Security Section, Assistant Brigade Commander for Security and Counterintelligence and Deputy Chief of Security Department in II Army Corps. Ministry of Defence staff assignments include Independent Advisor within Security and Counterintelligence Sector and Chief of the Military Liaison Section, Sector for International Cooperation and Chief of the Department for Doctrine, Modernisation and Military Cooperation, GS of the Army. Brigadier General Popovski also served as the Military Aide to the President of the Republic and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces from 2002-2004.
Multinational experience includes service with the Multinational Peace Forces South-Eastern Europe from 2001-2003, as Deputy Commander, Contingent Establishment, and was also assigned to the U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, USA, where he served as a Senior National Representative from March through October 2003 while national troops supported coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom and ISAF in Afghanistan.
Other significant assignments include: Head of the Military Representation at the Mission to NATO HQ, Brussels and Military Representative to the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Military Committee (EAPMC) from August 2004 to September 2009. Since January 2006 he also has been appointed as the Military Representative to the European Union Military Committee. Prior to becoming COMSEEBRIG the brigadier general has been assigned as a State Advisor for NATO and EU integration where he was the primary military advisor to the Minister of Defence.
His military education includes the Armed Forces Command and Staff College-Skopje, and the United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, USA. He also holds a Master of Strategic Studies Degree from the United States Army War College. In addition, he attended several international courses and schools to include the NATO Partnership for Peace Operational Staff Officer Course ( Netherlands); American Language Course (USA); International Defense Resources Management Course (Canada); College of International and Security Studies-Senior Executive Seminar (George Marshal Center-Germany); General, Flag Officers and Ambassadors Course (GEOFAC-08, NATO College, Roma-Italy) and Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies and Marshal Center (APCSS-MC) Senior Alumni Seminar-2008, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Brigadier General Popovski is married to Margarita. They have a son Viktor.