The Commander of the Defence Forces (Estonian: Kaitseväe juhataja) is the Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces and the national defence organisations.

List of officeholders

No.PortraitCommanderTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branchRef.
1Laidoner, JohanGeneral Johan Laidoner (1884–1953)23 December 19181 December 192412 March 193426 March 19208 January 192522 June 19401 year, 94 days38 days6 years, 102 daysTotal: 7 years, 234 daysArmy
2Jonson, GustavMajor General Gustav Jonson (1880–1942)22 June 19403 September 194073 daysArmy Cavalry
Vacant Soviet and German occupations
3Maide, JaanMajor General Jaan Maide (1896–1945)18 September 194424 October 194436 daysArmy
Vacant Soviet occupation
4Einseln, AleksanderGeneral Aleksander Einseln (1931–2017)1 May 19934 December 19952 years, 217 daysArmy
5Kert, JohannesLieutenant General Johannes Kert (1959–2021)23 January 199630 June 20004 years, 159 daysDefence League
Ermus, AarneLieutenant colonel Aarne Ermus (born 1966) Acting30 June 200021 September 200083 daysArmy
6Kõuts, TarmoVice Admiral Tarmo Kõuts (born 1953)21 September 200014 November 20066 years, 54 daysBorder Guard
7Laaneots, AntsGeneral Ants Laaneots (born 1948)5 December 20065 December 20115 years, 0 daysArmy
8Terras, RihoGeneral Riho Terras (born 1967)5 December 20115 December 20187 years, 0 daysArmy
9Herem, MartinGeneral Martin Herem (born 1973)5 December 201830 June 20245 years, 208 daysArmy
10Merilo, AndrusLieutenant General Andrus Merilo (born 1973)1 July 2024Incumbent1 year, 290 daysArmy

See also

Notes