Mr Jānis Kažociņš has been the National Security Adviser to the President of Latvia and Secretary of the National Security Council since January 2016. Previously he was an advisor for the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence on international and cyber security matters. Appointed by the Latvian Parliament, Mr Jānis Kažociņš served as Director of the Constitution Protection Bureau for ten years, beginning in 2003. During that decade, in 2011, he was Chairman of NATO’s Civilian Intelligence Committee.
Born in the United Kingdom of Latvian parents, he was a British Army officer serving in the British Army of the Rhine, Northern Ireland, Norway, Belize and elsewhere. Following renewed independence of the Baltic States, Mr Jānis Kažociņš was the first UK Defence Attaché to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. He formed and commanded the British Military Training and Advisory Team for Central and Eastern Europe in the Czech Republic and later was British Military Adviser to the Chief of Defence of Slovakia. He retired early from the UK Forces in August 2002 with the rank of Brigadier (NATO 1 star) in order to live permanently in Latvia.
Mr Jānis Kažociņš holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Nottingham University.
Education
- University of Nottingham, Faculty of Philosophy
- 1972 – Joined the British Army, Royal Artillery. Training in Sandhurst
- 1984 – Receives the UK Staff College Commandant`s Prize
Languages
- Latvian
- English
- French
- German
Professional work
- Since January 2016 – President`s National Security Adviser, Secretary of the National Security Council
- From July 2015 to January 2016 – freelance advisor to the President on social integration
- Since 2013 – Advisor to the Minister of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- From 2003 to 2013 – Director of the Constitution Protection Bureau
- Since 2002 – Early retirement from the British Army
- From 2001 to 2002 – British Military Advisor to CHOD, Slovakia
- From 2000 to 2001 – Commander of the British Military Advisory and Training Team for CEE, Czech Republic
- From 1997 to 2000 – Chief of Staff, 4th Division, UK
- From 1995 to 1997 – Deputy Chief of Staff of the NAF, Latvia
- From 1994 to 1995 – First British Military Attaché in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
- From 1992 to 1994 – Commander, 2nd Artillery Regiment, Germany (Belfast 1993)
Awards
- 1991 – Order of the British Empire 4th Class (First Gulf War)
- 1994 – Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service (Belfast)
- 2004 – 1st class of the Order of Viesturs
- 2007 – 1st class of the Cross of Recognition
- 2013 – Order of the Three Stars, 2nd class
- 2015 – 3rd Class of the Terra Mariana Cross
- 2019 – Medal of the Baltic Assembly