Gürsediin Saikhanbayar

Gürsediin Saikhanbayar is a Mongolian politician, public administration manager and military officer who was the Minister of Defense of Mongolia from 2020 to 2024. He is the 36th minister since the establishment of the ministry in 1911 and the 17th since the end of communism in 1990. He holds the rank of Lieutenant general, awarded to him in 2022.

Early life and career He was born on July 4, 1968, in Ulaanbaatar. He was raised in a military family. His father Gursed was born in Arkhangai province and he taught in primary and secondary schools in Bayankhongor Province before enlisting Mongolian Army in 1961. He was reappointed the following year by Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene.

Personal life He is married and has children. Aside from speaking his native language, he is fluent in Russian.

Awards

Honorary Medal of Military Service (1999) Order of Military Merit Medal of the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Great Mongolia (2006) Order of the Red Banner of Military Merit (2015)