Alexander Kolmakov

Alexander Petrovich Kolmakov (, born 31 July 1955) is a retired Russian Airborne Forces colonel general who served as the commander of the Airborne Forces from 2003 to 2007. He was also the First Deputy Minister of Defense from 2007 to 2010.

Early life and education Alexander Kolmakov was born on 31 July 1955 in Kaliningrad (modern-day Korolyov, Moscow Oblast), in the Russian SFSR of the Soviet Union. He attended the Ussuriysk Suvorov Military School in Ussuriysk, Primorsky Krai, and went on to graduate from the Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School in 1976. His later military education included the Frunze Military Academy, graduating in 1985, and the General Staff Academy in 1995.

Military career After being commissioned in the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV) his first post was in the 357th Guards Parachute Regiment of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division, stationed in Vitebsk, Byelorussian SSR. He commanded a reconnaissance platoon and an airborne training company before being deployed to Afghanistan in December 1979 at the start of the Soviet-Afghan War. Kolmakov remained there until December 1981, returning to the Soviet Union as a battalion chief of staff in the 301st Training Parachute Regiment, 44th Training Airborne Division, in Gaižiūnai, Lithuanian SSR. Kolmakov was chosen for the role of Airborne Forces commander out several other candidates, at a time when there was a strong push to have the branch be absorbed by the Russian Ground Forces, and when he was formally appointed by President Vladimir Putin he pledged to strengthen the traditions of the VDV.

Kolmakov was also promoted to the rank of colonel general in December 2004. As deputy defense minister, he worked with Minister of Defense Anatoly Serdyukov. He was released from military service on 21 June 2010.

Personal life He is married and has one son.

Awards Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 4th class Order of Military Merit Order for Service to the Homeland in the Armed Forces of the USSR, 2nd and 3rd classes