CO of Naval Logistic Base “PONTICA”
Captain(N) Milu-Constantin ZAHARIA
(2022 -)
Captain(n) Zaharia was born on June 3, 1973, in Constanta.
He graduated, in 1991, from the “Vasile Alecsandri” Theoretical High School in Galati, and in 1996 from the “Mircea cel Bătrân” Naval Academy, Navigation Section.
His first position onboard ships was as commander of the Torpedo Hydrofoil, then, successively, he fulfilled the positions of navigations officer of the Minesweeper Dragorul 13, radio electronic specialist officer in the Operations branch of the Corvettes Squadron. Later he was appointed as the head of navigation on board Frigate 111 Mărăşeşti.
Between 2008 and 2010, he attended the Master's course in the field of Military Sciences and Intelligence. Following his master’s degree, between 2010-2016, he held the position of Chief of Staff of the 150th Naval Missile Ships Squadron In Mangalia. Subsequently, he was appointed as Chief of Staff, “PONTICA” Naval Logistics Base. On December 15, 2017 he was appointed as acting commander of the 50th Corvette Squadron, and appointed to the position on March 15, 2019.Starting with 1st of May 2021 he was appointed as cheif of resourses office at Romanian Navy HQs and than on the 1st of September 2022 as CO of Naval Logistic Base „PONTICA”.
During his career, Zaharia has developed his professional training and completed various courses, such as the Global Maritime Distress Signal System GMDSS course, the General Staff course, the advanced English language learning course, the Crisis course Management And Euro-Atlantic Security, Resources Management in NATO course, Conflict Management Negotiation course, European Security and Defense Policy course, and the Law of Armed Conflicts course. Between 2004-2005, for 52 weeks, he completed the Joint Command and General Staff Course of the Baltic Defense College, in Tartu, Estonia, and between July 2018-June 2019, he completed and graduated the Naval Command course at the Naval War College, Newport, U.S.A.
Throughout his career, he participated in numerous NATO, NATO/PfP and regional exercises. He was the national representative for the BLACKSEAFOR regional initiative and actively participated on board the “MĂRĂŞEŞTI” frigate in the NATO SUMMIT 2004 mission in Istanbul, Turkey. Between November 2012 and June 2013, he held the position of Chief of Staff of the Standing NATO Naval Group 2 on board flagship ITS San Marco.
Between December 1, 2012 and June 12, 2013, he actively participated in the leading of NATO's anti-piracy operation OCEAN SHIELD in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, with positive results, while no single ship had been captured by pirates, and evaluated with NATO “Outstanding” merits. He proudly showed Romanian flag in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman, covering a total of 32,890 nautical miles in 3,800 hours, and participated in port diplomacy visits in United Arab Emirates, Tanzania, Kenya, Seychelles, and Madagascar.
He was awarded the “Emblem of Honor of the Romanian Naval Forces”, “Emblem of Honor of the Romanian Armed Forces” and “Emblem of Honor of Logistic”.In 2013 he was awarded the title of “Man of the Year” in the Naval Forces as “Exemplary officer in the Romanian Military and Naval Forces”. In 2013, he was awarded the “Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for service on Operations and Activities approved by the North Atlantic Council in relation to Africa”, through Vice Admiral Peter Hudson, COM MARCOM.
He speaks English.
He is married to Mihaela and has two boys and a girl.