Commandant of the Hellenic Coast Guard Vice Admiral HCG Tryfon KONTIZAS
The Commandant of the Hellenic Coast Guard (H.C.G), Vice Admiral Tryfon Kontizas, was born in 1970 in Syros. He graduated the Merchant Marine Academy for Marine Deck Officers of Syros. He joined the Hellenic Coast Guard in 1995, and by 1997, he was commissioned as Ensign. Subsequently, he graduated from the Hellenic Naval War College in 2007.
He has previously served in both operational and administrative units within the Coast Guard throughout his career. Specifically, he has been the Captain of the Coast Guard Patrol Boat (P.P.L.S.) 030 and as a Head of Sector in several Directorates, such as the Directorate of Operational Means and Special Units, the Directorate of Security, the Directorate of State Security, and the Directorate of Sea Borders Protection. Additionally, he has been actively engaged in the functions of the Coast Guard Olympic Center, contributing from first steps of preparation up to the successful completion of the security plans for the 2004 Olympic Games both at the levels of command and execution. Moreover, his contribution as a Senior National Expert at the European Migrant Smuggling Centre (EMSC) of Europol (2015-2018) has been remarkable.
He has served as Harbor Master at the Central Port Authority of Lavrio from 2019 to 2020 and he became the Director of the Directorate for Security and Sea Borders Protection of the Headquarters of the Hellenic Coast Guard right after. In November 2020, he was raised to the rank of Commodore H.C.G., and in April 2022, he was appointed as the Director of the Security & Policing Branch. In March 2023, he was raised to the rank of Rear Admiral H.C.G. Consequently, on March 13, 2024, by decision of the Supreme Council for the Selection of Personnel of the Hellenic Coast Guard, he rose to the rank of Vice Admiral H.C.G. and was selected for the position of the Second Deputy Commandant of the H.C.G.
On March, 29th, 2025 he assumed the duties of the Commandant of the Hellenic Coast Guard, by decision of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense of Greece.
He has attended a series of retraining programs and seminars in Greece and abroad on subjects related to national security and information in the Mediterranean region, counter-terrorism, operational planning, information management and analysis, and protection of sensitive targets.
He has been awarded all the medals, commendations and insignia of his rank.
He obtains an excellent command of the English language.
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