Background
Major General Valentin Krastev was born in Tsenovo, Russe municipality, Republic of Bulgaria in 1964. In 1986 he graduated from Vassil Levski Land Forces Academy (currently National Military University), majoring in Logistic Troops’ Command and Control. Upon graduation he was commissioned into a second lieutenant and took up the position of chief of logistic section in an Artillery Regiment. In 1990 Major General Krastev was appointed as a Senior Chief Assistant of a Combat Readiness section in an Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment. Between 1991 and 1993 he was a deputy commander of Centralized Logistic Warehouse. In 1995, following military career path, he graduated from Rakovski Defence and Staff College majoring in Operational and Tactical Command and Control of Land Forces’ Units.
He has held a variety of staff positions within the Bulgarian Armed Forces (BGR AF), namely Head of Logistic School for junior specialists, Chief Logistics Section in Signal Brigade and a Deputy Commander in Logistics of a Signal Brigade.
MG Krastev is a graduate of the French Defense College (2004) in Paris, France and upon his return he took over the position of a deputy-chief of Logistics Division in Joint Forces Command (JFC) of BGR AF. In 2006 he became a Chief of Logistics Division in JFC. As a deputy/head of this division MG Krastev was in charge of ensuring that operational contingents of BGR AF (conducting operational tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Mali) are fully capable of executing their mission.
In 2014 he was appointed as Director of Logistics Directorate with the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense. Furthermore his operational service includes the position DCOS Support of LANDCOM in Izmir, Turkiye from 2016 to 2019. During his military career path he has been decorated with miscellaneous awards as well as Decoration for distinguished service – 1st grade.
MG Krastev took up the post as Deputy Commander of NRDC-GR in August 2022.
MG Krastev is fluent in English, French and Russian.
MG Krastev is married with two adult children.
