in Krosno Odrzańskie. He distinguished himself as a brilliant organizer and in 1992 his division received the title of The Leading Unit of the Polish Army - the highest peacetime award a tactical unit can achieve. The same year he was promoted by president Lech Wałęsa to the rank of brigadier general (generał brygady) and in 1993 he returned to the headquarters of the Silesian Military District, where he resumed his previous post of Chief of Operations and deputy commander. In 1996 he was moved to Warsaw, where he assumed the post of chief of staff of the Warsaw Military District. In January 1997 he was assigned to the General Staff of the Polish Army as the Chief of Operational and Strategic Command. As such he was one of the Polish officers who took part in the Polish-NATO accession talks in 1997-1998. After that he travelled to United States. There he settled in Washington, D.C. and joined the National War College. He graduated in 1999 and returned to Warsaw, where he became the deputy Chief of General Staff of the Polish Army. On 15 August 1999 he was promoted by president Aleksander Kwaśniewski to major general (generał dywizji). On 28 September 2000 Piątas became the Chief of General Staff and was promoted to lieutenant general (generał broni). On 15 August 2002 Piątas was promoted to the rank of general (generał). On 25 September 2003 he was reappointed to another three-year term as Chief of General Staff. He retired from active service in January 2006. In January 2008 he became Deputy Minister of Defense in Donald Tusk's government. General Czesław Piątas is married to Danuta. They have two children. He is interested in military history and tennis; and speaks Polish, Russian and English fluently. See also Polish Army NATO External links Polish Army vortal Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union alumni 1946 births Living people Polish generals Polish expatriates in the Soviet Union Polish People's Army personnel