Leonidas Vasilikopoulos

Leonidas Vasilikopoulos (; 21 May 1932 – 30 May 2014) was a Greek Navy officer, who served as Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff in 1986–1989 and then as head of the Greek National Intelligence Service in 1993–1996. A distinguished officer, he is also notable for his participation in resistance groups against the Greek military junta of 1967–1974, being repeatedly imprisoned and exiled as a consequence.

Life Born in Athens on 21 May 1932, Leonidas Vasilikopoulos entered the Hellenic Navy Academy on 7 October 1949 and graduated on 18 June 1954 as a Line Ensign. Promoted to sub-lieutenant on 4 June 1957, he received his first command, the vehicle carrier Merlin, in 1961. On 16 October 1961, he was promoted to lieutenant. In 1962, he received command of the vehicle carriers Daniolos and Grigoropoulos (1962–63). On 19 August 1966, he voluntarily retired with the rank of lieutenant in retirement.

During the Greek military junta of 1967–1974, he was an active opponent of the military regime, and was imprisoned and tortured by the Greek Military Police (EAT-ESA). Thus he was arrested by EAT-ESA on 2 August 1969 and held for a month in prison for his participation in the anti-junta Filiki Etaireia group. He was then placed in isolated custody in a hotel until 21 April 1970, and then sent to internal exile at Samothrace until 8 April 1971. Shortly after his release, on 23 September, he was re-arrested for his participation in another anti-junta group, Free Greeks, and held in the Korydallos Prison until 14 July 1972. He was re-arrested on 21 May 1973 for his participation in the Antidictatorial Youth-EAN group, and condemned to two and a half years in prison, but released in the general amnesty of 21 August.

Admiral Vasilikopoulos died on 30 May 2014.