Tiina Uudeberg was confirmed as the Undersecretary for Defence Planning and Meelis Oidsalu as the Undersecretary for Defence Readiness.
According to the Minister of Defence Kalle Laanet, both undersecretaries have long-term experience in the field of defence. ’Both Tiina Uudeberg and Meelis Oidsalu possess extensive experience and knowledge in the defence domain. They have both domestic and international experience, which they are able to effectively implement in their work for the efficient development of national defence,’ Laanet said.
Tiina Uudeberg served as the Director of the Defence Planning Department from 2015 to 2020. Uudeberg has also worked as a resource advisor to Estonia’s delegation to NATO and as an adviser to the NATO and European Union Department in the Ministry of Defence.
Meelis Oidsalu served as the Undersecretary for Defence Planning for the past five years. Prior to that Oidsalu worked as the Undersecretary for Legal and Administrative Affairs, and in the Internal Audit Department, Security Department, and the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Defence.
The Undersecretary for Defence Planning deals with the management of defence planning and defence investments and co-ordinates the work of the Defence Planning Department and the Defence Investments Department.
The Undersecretary for Defence Readiness deals with the management of defence service (including conscription), voluntary contributions to defence, and defence and crisis preparedness issues, and coordinates the work of the Defence Readiness and Defence Service Department.
‘The duties of the New Undersecretary for Defence Readiness are related to the increased need to coordinate wide-ranging defence issues with the areas of government of other ministries and external partners, in order to raise the country’s crisis preparedness,’ Laanet explained, adding that the aim is to ensure more effective readiness in dealing with various crises.
Undersecretary for Defence Readiness Meelis Oidsalu started work yesterday, 1 February. Undersecretary for Defense Planning Tiina Uudeberg is studying at the National Defense University of the United States and will begin work in July of this year. Meelis Oidsalu will substitute for her until the end of her studies.
Undersecretaries are selected in accordance with the requirements set forth in Regulation No. 100 of the Government of the Republic, via a public competition held by the Civil Service Committee for Selection of Top Leaders. The Commission proposed the appointment of Tiina Uudeberg and Meelis Oidsalu to the Minister of Defence.
Photo of Undersecretary of Defence Planning Tiina Uudeberg: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kaitseministeerium_mod_estonia/50897260846...
Photo of Undersecretary of Readiness Meelis Oidsalu: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kaitseministeerium_mod_estonia/50897377177...
Additional information: [email protected]