Fleet Commander
Rear Admiral (LH)
Valentin A. IACOBLEV
Rear Admiral (LH) Valentin A. IACOBLEV was born in Constanta, Romania.
After he graduated from the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” Navy High School (1985), he studied Navigation at the “Mircea cel Batran” Naval Academy between 1985-1989. Upon graduation, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant j.g. and began his military career on board the “ALEXANDRU AXENTE” Minesweeper (MS30), where he served as Navigation Officer between 1989-1994. He then continued as Executive Officer of the “LUPU DINESCU” Minesweeper (MS25) between 1994-1999, having been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1995.
To progress his academic development, he enrolled at the Faculty of Joint Services Command within the “Carol I” National Defense University, which he attended between 1999-2001. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 2000 and, after his graduation, he was appointed Executive Officer of Submarine “DELFINUL”.
In 2001, he was appointed commanding officer of the “ALEXANDRU AXENTE” Minesweeper and between 2001-2004 he participated in several national and PfP exercises with his crew.
In 2004, he was selected to participate in the type-22 frigates programme, which involved the acquisition of two type-22 frigates, HMS Coventry and HMS London, from the United Kingdom. As part of this programme, he also attended a Preliminary Safety Training at Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST), in Plymouth.
He was appointed Executive Officer of the “REGINA MARIA” frigate (F222) and was then promoted to the rank of Commander in March 2005. He became the Commanding Officer of the “REGINA MARIA” frigate in 2008. He was promoted again in 2009, to the rank of Captain.
In 2012, he became the Head of Training for Support Forces at the Romanian Naval Forces headquarters in Bucharest, where he served until 2016. He returned to Constanta at the end of his tenure, where he took command of 56th Frigate Flotilla and was later promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral (LH) in December 2017.
Between 2007-2015, first as Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer of the “REGINA MARIA” frigate, and later as Commander of 56th Frigate Flotilla, he was actively involved in the delivery of the Naval Puma Helicopter Programme. He saw the programme through to completion, resulting in the three Puma helicopters successfully transitioning into operational navy helicopters.
In September 2020, he was appointed Deputy Fleet Commander.
Starting with 1st of March 2021 he was appointed Fleet Commander.
He has actively pursued his professional development by attending various courses and seminars at different stages of his career, including: MCM Staff Course at the “Mircea cel Batran” Naval Academy (Constanta, 1995), Navy Staff Course at the “Mircea cel Batran” Naval Academy (Constanta, 1998–1999), Multinational Staff Officers Orientation Course at NATO School SHAPE (Oberammergau - Germany, 2002), Maritime Operational Language Seminar at the Naval Station Newport (Newport - USA, 2002), Defense Resources Management Course at the “Carol I” National Defense University (Bucharest, 2009), Joint Strategic Leadership Course at the “Carol I” National Defense University (Bucharest, 2014), Public Relations Course (Bucharest, 2016), and Navy Strategic Thinking Course at the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia (Charlottesville - USA, 2020).
Throughout his military career, he has participated in numerous operations and naval exercises, including: COOPERATIVE PARTNER ’96, ’98, ’02 (Romania), OPEN SPIRIT ’01 (Training Programme on board HNLMS Makkum (Latvia), COOPERATIVE PARTNER ’01 (Georgia), COOPERATIVE PARTNER ’03 (Ukraine), COOPERATIVE PARTNER ’04 (Bulgaria), NIRIIS ’07 (Greece), NATO Summit ’08 (Romania), OPERATION ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR ’06, ’09, ’11 (Mediterranean Sea), SEA SHIELD 17, 18, 19 Romanian multinational led exercise Constanta, Romania – Black Sea.
In recognition of his professional record and over 25 years of service, he has been awarded several military commendations, including: the Article 5 NATO Medal for service with NATO in relation to Operation Active Endeavour (2006), the Romanian General Staff “Emblem of Honor” (2007), the Romanian Army “Emblem of Honor” (2011), the Romanian Navy “Emblem of Honor” (2015), and the Romanian Air Forces “Emblem of Honor” (2019). Rear Admiral (LH) Valentin A. IACOBLEV speaks English.
He is married and has one daughter.