Josip Lucić

Josip Lucić (born 26 April 1957) is a Croatian general and former chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia.

Lucić was born in Posavski Podgajci near Drenovci on 26 April 1957. He finished elementary and high school in Zagreb. In 1984 he graduated at Faculty of Kinesiology of University of Zagreb, and in 1988 he became master of kinesiology.

In November 1990 he voluntarily joined units of Croatian Ministry of Interior, where he became deputy commander of special battalion "Rakitje" and later commander of the same battalion. He was also involved in the formation of an anti-terrorist police battalion. From May 1991 until December 1991 he was commander of 1st Guards Brigade "Tigers". As a commander of the 1st Croatian National Guard brigade he participated in forming of second, third and fourth professional brigade of the National Guard. He was also involved in the formation of a mountain brigade, a company for alpinist training, orientations, sky and mountain guides. As a commander of the 1st Brigade he stopped the advance of Yugoslav People's Army in the direction of Stara Gradiška-Okučani, and the forming of a defense line in front of Novska.

From December 1991 until April 1992 he was deputy chief of staff for the Croatian Army and he also participated in the process of organizing and training of the Croatian Army. From April 1992 until June 1992 he was commander of Military District Osijek. After the signing of a cease fire, he established the conditions for peace in eastern Slavonia. Conditions for the arrival of UNTAES were made under his command. From June 1992 until December 1992 he was deputy minister and chief of the Personnel Department of Ministry of Defence of Republic of Croatia. From December 1992 until February 1996 he served as chief inspector in the General Inspectorate of Ministry of Defense. In February 1996 he became chief of the Military Academy "Petar Zrinski" in Karlovac.

On 20 November 2000 he became deputy chief of General Staff of Armed Forces. On 16 January 2003 he was named chief of the General Staff by commander-in-chief of Armed Forces of Croatia and president of the country Stjepan Mesić. On 16 January 2008 his five-year mandate expired and he was formally dissolved of his duties. On 28 February 2008 he was named once again chief of staff, which made him the first Croatian general to do this duty twice. On 1 March 2011 he was once again dissolved of his duties.

General Josip Lucić during ceremony of raising of NATO flag in Zagreb on 7 April 2009

Croatian decorations

• Grand Order of King Petar Krešimir IV
• Order of Duke Domagoj
• Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski
• Order of Ban Jelačić
• Order of Ante Starčević
• Order of the Croatian Trefoil
• Order of the Croatian Interlace
• Commemorative Medal of the Homeland War
• Commemorative Medal of the Homeland's Gratitude for 5 years of honorable service
• Commemorative Medal of the Homeland's Gratitude for 10 years of honorable service
• "Flash" Medal
• "Storm" Medal
• "Exceptional Undertaking" Medal

Foreign decorations

• Legion of Merit ()
• Grand Officer (International Military Sports Council)

• narodne-novine.nn.hr Accessed 2011-08-13 (Croatian)
• narodne-novine.nn.hr Accessed 2011-08-13. (Croatian)

• Member of Council for Defence and National Security (VONS)
• Member of Military Council
• President of Council for System of Command (SUZA)
• President of High Court-Martial
• President of Croatian delegation for military sports (CISM)
• President of Organization Committee of 2nd Military Games in Zagreb in 1999

General Lucić is married and has two sons.