04.08.2026 16:21
By the decisions of the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ), 25 generals and admirals were promoted to the next rank, and 69 colonels were promoted to the ranks of general and admiral. Air Pilot Colonel Alper Gezeravcı, who made history by successfully completing Türkiye's first manned space mission and serves within the Turkish Air Force Space Command, was promoted to brigadier general within the scope of the decisions taken.
The decisions of the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ), convened under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, have been announced. 25 generals and admirals were promoted to the next rank, and 69 colonels were promoted to the ranks of general and admiral. Among the critical names promoted was Turkey's first astronaut, Air Pilot Colonel Alper Gezeravcı. Gezeravcı was promoted to brigadier general.
YAŞ DECISIONS ANNOUNCED: HUGE PROMOTION FOR GEZERAVCI
Following the YAŞ meeting held at the Presidential Complex, the promotion and appointment decisions in the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) were announced. Air Pilot Colonel Alper Gezeravcı, who made history by successfully completing Turkey's first crewed space mission, was promoted to brigadier general within the scope of the Supreme Military Council decisions.
The Directorate of Communications, which announced the development, stated in its statement: "We wish that the new ranks and duties of the generals, admirals, and colonels who have been promoted to the next rank or whose terms of duty have been extended will be auspicious for our Nation, our State, our Armed Forces, and their families. We thank the generals, admirals, and colonels who will retire after completing their terms of duty with great dedication and honor for their service, and we wish them and their families happiness in the new phase of their lives."
FROM SPACE MISSION TO SPACE COMMAND
Alper Gezeravcı, born in Mersin in 1979, graduated from the Turkish Air Force Academy's Department of Electronics Engineering and completed his master's degree at the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology. He served as an F-16 pilot and in the role of Academic Wing Commander within the Turkish Air Force for over 15 years.
Gezeravcı, who went to the International Space Station (ISS) with the Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) mission on January 19, 2024, and earned the title of "Turkey's First Astronaut," carried out 13 different scientific experiments in space.
After returning to the country, Gezeravcı was assigned to the Turkish Air Force Space Command and also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Space Agency (TUA). He will now continue his military career with the rank of Brigadier General.