Fleet Commander
Rear Admiral (UH) Cornel-Eugen COJOCARU

RADM COJOCARU was born on February 12nd, 1970 in Coteana, Olt county, Romania. He graduated from the Military High School “Dimitrie Cantemir” in 1988 and between 1988-1993 he attended the Romanian Naval Academy “Mircea cel Bătrân”. He began his military career as Commanding Officer on the fast divers boats “Jupiter” (1993) and “Venus” (1996), and continued as communications officer on the divers support ship Emil “Racoviţă” (2001) and later as executive officer on the logistic ship “Midia” (2001-2003). Starting with 2003, he commanded “Midia” (2003-2004) and later the Training Ship “Constanţa” (2004-2008).

In 2008 he was admitted to the National Defence University “Carol I” and after graduation in 2010 he was appointed as Chief of Staff of the Missiles Fast Patrol Boats Squadron. After a short period of time, he acted as Commanding Officer of the frigate “Mărăşeşti” (F 111). In 2016, RDML Cojocaru took over the duties of the deputy Chief of Staff for Training of the Fleet Command, position he later took over fully in 2017, including as Commander of the Romanian Task Group.

He completed his post graduate training during the Joint Strategic Leadership Course - National Defence University „Carol I” in 2010, the Naval Command College Course - Newport, RI, USA (2015), Combined Force Maritime Component Commander Flag Course at USA Naval War College and U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa, Naples, Italy (2021) and Senior Leaders course, Baltic Command College, Riga, Latvia (2022). Throughout his military career, he represented the Romanian Naval Forces by participating in different operations and exercises, such as Cooperative Engagement 2003 in Croatia as operations officer on board Divers Support Ship “Grozavul”;

In 2005, as CO of ship “Constanța”, RESCUER–MEDCEUR, in Georgia, 2008 and UE/EUMM Georgia. While CO of frigate “Mărăşeşti”, the ship was certified level 2 interoperability NATO and later on he commanded the frigate, as flag ship for BLACKSEAFOR. Since 2016 he has participated in international exercises like Poseidon and Sea Shield.

In 2019 he was appointed Exercise Director for Sea Shield. During his career, RDML COJOCARU was awarded with Romanian Army “Emblem of Honour”, Romanian General Staff “Emblem of Honour”, Romanian Navy “Emblem of Honour”, “Maritime Virtue” Knight Order, “The Officer of the year” from Admirals Club and “Honorable Citizen” of State of Rhode Island, USA in 2014.

In 2018 he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Fleet Command, in September 2020 he took over the duties of deputy Chief for Operations and Training of the Naval Forces Staff, on November 1st 2021 he was appointed acting Deputy Chief of the Romanian Naval Forces, position he took over fully on April 1st 2022. He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral (LH) on 27 November 2020. Starting with 1st of October 2022 he was appointed Fleet Commander. He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral (UH) on 1st December 2023.

Rear Admiral COJOCARU speaks English and French.