Leo Kunnas
| Leo Kunnas | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
November 14, 1967 Kliima, Estonia |
| Allegiance |
 Estonia
|
| Service/branch | Maavägi (Army) |
| Years of service | 1992 - 2007 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel (reserve) |
| Commands held | Meegomäe Battle School Estonian Military Academy General Staff Dept of Operations |
| Battles/wars | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Awards | 4th class Order of the Cross of the Eagle Estonian Defence Forces' Distinguished Service Medal Estonian Defence League's Distinguished Service Medal (2) Bronze Star |
| Other work | writer |
Leo Kunnas (born November 14, 1967) is an Estonian former military officer and a science fiction writer.
Kunnas was born in Kliima village, Orava Parish. After graduating from the Finnish National Defence Academy 1994, Kunnas was the commander of the Defence Forces Battle School (Meegomäe, Võru). He was also the first commander of the Estonian Military Academy 1997-1999 (located in Tallinn at that time).
In 2003-2007, he was the chief of the Department of Operations (J3) of the Estonian Defence Forces General Staff, holding the rank of Lieutenant colonel. After graduating from US National Defence University (Norfolk, Virginia) he served 2005 as a staff officer in Operation Iraqi Freedom in MND-Baghdad 3.BCT.
Kunnas resigned from active duty in autumn 2007. The reason for his resignation was the issue of change of Estonian constitution proposed to the parliament by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves.
After his resignation, he has defended the following views in numerous articles:
The reaction from the Estonian society and government circles is dualistic in nature. On the one hand, Lt. Gen (Ret.) Johannes Kert thinks that Leo Kunnas is one of the very few people in Estonia who has analytical and very clear vision of the Estonian defence issues. Estonian MOD officials (and especially ex-minister of defence Jürgen Ligi) are strongly against Kunnas' views.
Leo Kunnas has studied history, philosophy and politics in the following universities:
Military education:
At the age of 16, Leo Kunnas was sentenced to Soviet prison for attempted border crossing and possession of firearms. One of the prosecutors was Ain Seppik, a former Communist and current Estonian top politician. Kunnas looks back at the violent prison years in his novel, The World of the Eternal Light, which won the Looming annual award 1991. His novel "Sõdurjumala teener" (Servant of the Soldier God) earned the second place award at the Estonian novel competition of 2000.
In 2007 the Journalists Association Estonia announced his article "Eesti 2007: Phyrrose võit" (Eesti Päevaleht,31.12.07) as the best opinion article of the year.
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