Gen. Czesław Piątas (born 20 March 1946) is a Polish general, former Chief of General Staff of the Polish Army. He is one of the authors of the plan of modernisation of the Polish armed forces and one of the architects of its integration with the structures of NATO. Biography Czesław Piątas was born in Hausach, Germany. In September 1965 he joined the Polish Army and the Armour Officer's School in Poznań. After he graduated in 1968, he was promoted to the rank of ensign (podporucznik) and assigned to the 8th Tank Regiment of Żagań-based Polish 11th Armoured Division as a tank platoon commander. In 1971 he was promoted to first lieutenant (porucznik) and the following year he assumed command over a company of tanks in the same regiment. For the good effects of his work on the post of a tank commander, in 1974 Piątas was sent to Moscow, where he joined the Kliment Voroshilov Academy of Tank Troops. One of the best students at his course, in 1975 he was promoted to captain. In 1977 he graduated and was instantly assigned to the staff of the 11th Armoured Division, where he accomplished his probation. In 1978 he became the chief of staff and deputy commanding officer of the 3rd Tank Regiment of the 11th Division. The following year Piątas was promoted to major. In 1980 he joined the 10th Tank Regiment of the Polish 10th Armoured Division, of which he also was the chief of staff. The unit under his command won many military awards, including the title of a leading unit of the Silesian Military District, which won Piątas a promotion to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1982. The following year he became the chief of staff and deputy commanding officer of the Opole-based 10th Armoured Division. He served on that post until 1986, when he was promoted to colonel and yet again sent to Moscow for training. There he joined the General Staff Academy of the USSR. He graduated in 1982 and was assigned to the Headquarters of the Silesian Military Area, and in 1986 was given the command of Polish 4th Mechanised Division. Upon his return in 1988, Piątas settled in Wrocław, where he became the Chief of Operations and the deputy commander of the Silesian Military District. In 1991 he left that post and became the commander of the Polish 4th Armoured Division dislocated