Viorel Pană

Early life and military career Viorel Pană was born on 4 February 1967 in Găești, Dâmbovița County. He started his military career by attending in Breaza, from which he graduated in 1985. He continued his studies at the Aurel Vlaicu Military School of Aviation Officers graduating in 1989 and eventually becoming a MiG-21 fighter pilot, being assigned to the Fighter Aviation Regiment from Deveselu. as well as in participating and leading missions in-country and abroad in Libya, Montenegro, China, and Mali.

He was named Air Force Chief of Staff on 11 October 2017, succeeding Major general Laurian Anastasof.

On 30 November 2023, Gen. Pană went into reserve, being succeeded as Chief of Staff by Major general Leonard Baraboi.

Education 1989 Aurel Vlaicu Military School of Aviation Officers, Boboc 1996 Squadron Officer Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, United States 2000 Postgraduate course in the management of joint operations, NATO Training Center, Bucharest 2005 Operational level planning course, Oberamergau, Germany 2007 Carol I National Defence University, Bucharest 2008 Faculty of Communication and Public Relations, SNSPA, Bucharest 2010 PhD in Military Sciences and Intelligence, Carol I National Defence University, Bucharest; 2014 Postgraduate course in the field of national security, National Defense College, Bucharest

Decorations Lt. Gen. Viorel Pană being presented with the Legion of Merit by Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.

Romania Order of Aeronautical Virtue Knight Emblem of Honor of the Romanian Army Emblem of Honor of the General Staff Emblem of Honor of the Air Force Honorific sign "În Serviciul Patriei"

France Ordre national du Mérite Officer rank

United States Legion of Merit

Ranks Lieutenant (1989–1992) Senior lieutenant (1992–1996) Captain (1996–1999) Lieutenant Commander (1999–2007) Captain Commander (2007–2010) Commander (2010–2014) Air Flotilla General (2014–2018) Major General (2018–2021) Lieutenant General (2021–present)