Commander of the "Mihail Kogălniceanu" Riverine Flotilla

Rear Admiral of the Flotilla Nicu CHIREA

Performs the duties of commander of the Riverine Flotilla starting on September 1, 2023.

He is a graduate of the "Mircea cel Bătrân" Naval Academy, Military Specialty - Artillery and Naval Missiles, (Graduation 1995) and of the "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" Naval High School in Constanța (Graduation 1988).

Throughout his military career, he successively held the following positions:
• 1995-2000: Combat unit commander and second officer at Monitor 47 of the 67th Riverine Gunboat Squadron;
• 2000-2004: Commander of Riverine Armored Patrol Boat 180;
• 2004-2006: Commander at Monitorul 45;
• 2006-2008: Chief of Staff at the 88th Riverine Patrol Boat Squadron;
• 2008-2010: Head of Operations and Training at the 67th Riverine Gunboat Squadron;
• 2011-2014: Chief of Staff at the Brăila Logistics Section 329;
• 2014-2020: Head of Command Planning and Training Office, Head of Training Section, Head of Training and Doctrine Service within the Training and Doctrine Service of the General Staff of the Naval Forces;
• 2020-2022: Commander of the "Admiral Ion Murgescu" Navy Petty Officer School of the Naval Forces;
• 2022- September 2023: Deputy of the Fleet Commander at the Fleet Command "Vice Admiral Vasile Urseanu".

Organized and participated in various multinational exercises as follows:
• 2014-2020: POSEIDON, SEA SHIELD, Major Naval Forces Exercises (Project Officer);
• 2017,2018: SEA BREEZE in Odessa;
• 2017: SABER GUARDIAN (Project Officer for Naval Forces);
• 2017-2018: RIVERINE (Project Officer for Naval Forces);
• 2019: SABER GUARDIAN, VIGUROUS WARIOR (Project Officer for Naval Forces);
• 2023: POSEIDON 2023 (Exercise Leader), SEA SHIELD 2023 (Fleet Project Officer);

In the almost 30 years of activity, he perfected his professional training by graduating from the Joint Maritime Operations Course, New Port, Rhode Island, USA (2007), the Master's University Studies in Inter-Armed Leadership - Naval Forces (2011), the Postgraduate Course of continuous professional development in leadership of the Naval Forces (2015), Doctoral School - National University of Defense Doctor in Military Sciences (2017-2020), Postgraduate training course in strategic leadership for advancement to the rank of general/similar (2020) and of the Communication and Public Relations Course for Commanders of Large Units and Commands (2020).

As a sign of appreciation, for the proven professionalism and for the outstanding results achieved throughout his career, he was awarded the following orders and medals: Honorary sign "In the Service of the Fatherland" for 15 years of activity (2008), Honorary Emblem of the General Staff (2008), Emblem of Honor of the Naval Forces (2013), Honorary Sign "In the Service of the Fatherland" for 20 years of activity (2013), Honorary Sign "In the Service of the Fatherland" for 25 years of activity (2018), Emblem of Honor of the Air Force (2020), Emblem of Honor of the Romanian Army (2021) and Emblem of Honor of the Combined Forces Command (2022).

By presidential decree, on December 1, 2023, he was promoted to the rank of flotilla rear admiral.

He was born on June 17, 1970, in Măcin, Tulcea County.

He speaks English fluently.