Alper Gezeravcı promoted to brigadier general at Supreme Military Council: Pilot who spent 14 days at ISS will don new rank on August 30

The Supreme Military Council decided to promote Air Force Pilot Colonel Alper Gezeravcı to brigadier general rank. The promotion will be effective as of August 30, 2026.

Gezeravcı spent 14 days at the International Space Station in January 2024 with Axiom Space's AX-3 mission, conducting 13 different scientific experiments during that period; by taking on roles in Turkey Space Agency and TÜBİTAK projects, he earned the title of Turkey's first astronaut.

At the Supreme Military Council meeting held under the presidency of President Erdoğan at Beştepe, a total of 25 generals and admirals were promoted to the next rank this year while 69 colonels were promoted to general and admiral rank. At the same meeting, Colonel Özlem Karapınar was also promoted to brigadier general, becoming the Turkish Air Force's first female general. The Supreme Military Council had promoted a similar number of officers the previous year.