Vecdi Gönül
| Mehmet Vecdi Gönül | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of National Defence of Turkey | |
| In office 18 November 2002 – 6 July 2011 | |
| Prime Minister | Abdullah Gül Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |
| Preceded by | Sabahattin Çakmakoğlu |
| Succeeded by | İsmet Yılmaz |
| Governor of Izmir | |
| In office 10 February 1984 – 11 January 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Hüseyin Öğütçen |
| Succeeded by | Nevzat Ayaz |
| Governor of Ankara | |
| In office 15 December 1979 – 27 October 1980 | |
| Preceded by | Tekin Alp |
| Succeeded by | Mustafa Gönül |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 November 1939 Erzincan, Turkey |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Political party | AK Party |
| Spouse(s) | Sevgi Gönül |
| Alma mater | Ankara University, University of Southern California |
| Religion | Islam |
Mehmet Vecdi Gönül (pronounced [vedʒdi ˈɟønyl]; born 29 November 1939 in Erzincan) is former Minister of Defence of Turkey and Member of Parliament for Kocaeli.[1]
Biography
Gönül's father, Saffet, was a teacher in Military high schools. His mother's name was Lütfiye. He graduated in political science from Ankara University in 1960 and returned to Erzincan as a civil servant. He completed a master's degree in Public Administration at the University of Southern California and then returned to a career in public administration in Turkey, eventually becoming Chief of the Directorate of General Security (October 1977 - February 1978) and then governor of Kocaeli, Ankara (during the 1980 Turkish coup d'état) and Istanbul provinces. In the mid-80s he was governor of Izmir where he is remembered for a large project of road-building and the construction of Adnan Menderes Airport. Gönül eventually became president of the Public Spending Authority (Sayıştay), the country's highest authority on public finance.[1]
Gönül was elected to the Turkish parliament for Kocaeli on 18 April 1999, and was part of the vanguard of the incumbent AKP. When Tayyip Erdoğan was barred from entering parliament, he became a candidate for party leadership, and later a candidate for the presidency.
He became Minister of National Defence on 19 November 2002,[1] serving at this post until 6 July 2011.
Vecdi Gönül is married and has 3 children]. He speaks English[2][3] and Arabic.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Biography, Turkish Ministry of Defence.
- ↑ Biyografi.net (Turkish)
- ↑ Turkish Grand National Assembly bio (Turkish)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sabahattin Çakmakoğlu |
Minister of National Defence of Turkey November 18, 2002 - July 6, 2011 |
Succeeded by İsmet Yılmaz |
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