Other events in Baltic States

The Estonian Air Force on Friday celebrated the 99th anniversary of the Air Force at the Amari air base, while Col. Riivo Valge took over the command of the Estonian Air Force from Col. Jaak Tarien.,informed LETA/BNS. 

Col. Riivo Valge has been serving in the defense forces since 1994. He holds two military master's degrees from the United States and has served at the NATO Allied Air Command in Ramstein, Germany. Valge has also participated in the NATO peace support operation in Bosnia and as air operations planner as part of the NATO operation in Libya. Valge served as chief of staff of the Estonian Air Force from 2012 until assuming the position of commander of the Air Force.

Col. Jaak Tarien has been serving in the defense forces since 1994 and assumed the position of commander of the Air Force in 2012. Tarien will start service as head of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (NATO CCD COE) on Sept. 1.

The ceremony held at Amari also included recognizing outstanding members of the Estonian Air Force at a lineup as well as a joint wreath-laying ceremony along with veterans of the Air Force at a memorial located at the air base.