Riho Terras

Riho Terras (born 17 April 1967) is an Estonian politician and a former military officer who is serving as a member of the European Parliament since 1 February 2020. He was the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces from 2011 to 2018. He was promoted to general in 2017.

He was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2019 and took his seat after Brexit.

Early life and career
He was born on April 17, 1967 in the city of Kohtla-Jarve in the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic. Terras graduated in 1985 from Kohtla-Järve 5th Middle School. In his youth, Terras was conscripted as a sailor in the Soviet Navy, serving with the Northern Fleet on the frigate Zadornyy. He later studied history at University of Tartu, during which he also became a member of the Estonian Defence League. He joined Johannes Kert in the defence of radio and television buildings in Tallinn during the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt. Due to a lack of personnel in the Defence League, he decided to join a course for reserve officers, where he studied alongside Leo Kunnas. He was soon persuaded by Ants Laaneots to become a member of the Estonian Defence Forces. In 1994 he started studying at the Bundeswehr University Munich, where he received a master's degree in Political Science and Sociology. Thus he picked up where he had left off in his education after his time at the University of Tartu.

Military career
His military education includes studies in the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom, the Joint Command and General Staff Course in the Baltic Defence College, the European Security. Policy Course in the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, a Battalion Commander's Course in Switzerland, a Company Commander's course in Germany, a Company Commander's course in Sweden and the Officer's Basic course in Estonia. Terras's civilian education includes history studies in the University of Tartu, and a master's degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Bundeswehr.

After graduating from the Basic Officer's Course in Estonia, Terras served as a Company Commander and as a Battalion Second in Command of the Kalev Single Infantry Battalion from 1992 to 1993. Between 1993 and 1994 Terras served as the commander of the Põhja Single Infantry Company. After graduating from the Bundeswehr University (Germany) he served as the commander of the Guard Battalion from 1998 to 2000. Terras was appointed the Chief of Staff of the Defence League Headquarters in 2000. From 2001 to 2004 he served as the Estonian Defence Attaché in Germany and Poland. Between 2005 and 2008 Terras served as the Chief of the Analysis and Planning Department and as Chief of the Planning Section, Analysis and Planning Department in the Estonian Defence Forces Headquarters. In 2007, Terras served in the NATO Training Mission - Iraq as Deputy Chief of Staff. Riho Terras was confirmed in December 2008 as Permanent Secretary of the Estonian Ministry of Defence. Before taking up the position of the Permanent Secretary, he was Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations in the Estonian Defence Forces. Terras served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Estonian Defence forces from January 2011 to March 2011 and then continued his service as the Chief of Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces. Terras was appointed the Chief of Defence from 5 December 2011

Education

 * 1989-1993, University of Tartu, History studies, Tartu, Estonia
 * 1991-1992, Officer's Basic course, Tallinn, Estonia
 * 1993, Company Commander's course, Sweden
 * 1996, Company Commander's course, Germany
 * 1994-1998, University of Bundeswehr, master's degree in Political Science and Sociology, Munich, Germany
 * 1999, Battalion Commander's Course, Switzerland
 * 2000, Estonian National Defence Course, Tartu, Estonia
 * 2000, Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Policy Course, Geneva, Switzerland
 * 2005, Baltic Defence College, Joint Command and General Staff Course, Tartu, Estonia
 * 2010, Royal College of Defence Studies, London, United Kingdom

Personal
In addition to the Estonian language Terras is fluent in English, German and Russian. He is married with two sons. His wife Kaili is an Ambassador-at-large in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Education. His eldest son, politician Hendrik Johannes Terras, was named in honor of Johannes Kert and his younger offspring is named after the Estonian god of weather and harvest Uku. His hobbies include opera, medieval history and hunting.