Andrus Merilo
Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces
Lieutenant General Andrus Merilo is Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces. He started his military service in 1992 as a conscript in the Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion. He continued his service in the Estonian Infantry Company of the Baltic Battalion. Lt GenMerilo has served in numerous positions in the Defence Forces, including as Chief of the Operations Department at the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces, Chief of Administration for the Chief of Defence, Commander of the Scouts Battalion, and Commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade. Lt Gen Merilo’s military education includes studies at the Finnish National Defence University, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College in the US. Lt Gen Merilo has been deployed to Lebanon, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He has been awarded the Order of the Cross of the Eagle (V Class), the Estonian Defence Forces Meritorious Service Cross, and the Estonian Defence Forces Distinguished Service Decoration.
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Updated: May 11, 2026