Vlastimil Picek

Vlastimil Picek
Born	(1956-10-25) 25 October 1956 (age 67) Turnov, Czechoslovakia
Allegiance	Czech Republic
Years of service	1975–2012
Rank	General
Commands held	Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic
Awards	Cross of Merits of the Minister of Defence 3rd Grade ACR Medal 3rd Grade National Service Medal Medal for Merits in National Defence Honorary Commemorative Badge for Service in Peace Operation in the Balkans NATO 50th Anniversary Medal Honorary Commemorative ACR Badge of Premysl Otakar II, the Iron and Gold King

Vlastimil Picek (25 October 1956) is a Czech politician. He served as the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic from March 2012 to January 2013.^[1] From 2007 to 2012, he was the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. He was the fourth person and the first member of Czech Air Force to serve at this position. He was appointed by President Václav Klaus and took office on 1 March 2007. He was replaced by Major General Petr Pavel as from 1 July 2012.^[2] On 18 September 2012 he was appointed the 1st Deputy Defence Minister. On 13 December 2012, he was dismissed by then new minister Karolína Peake and on 21 December 2012 reinstalled by Prime Minister Petr Nečas, after Nečas dismissed Peake.^[3] In March, 2013, he was appointed Minister of Defence.