Almaz Zhumakeyev Appointed Deputy Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed Almaz Zhumakeyev as the new Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The corresponding decree was signed by the Head of State.

In his new role, Zhumakeyev is relieved from his previous position. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Commander of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan.

Almaz Zhumakeyev was born on March 6, 1970, in Kyrgyzstan. He is a graduate of the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School, which he completed in 1992.

He began his military service that same year in airborne units in Kapshagay, rising through the ranks from platoon commander to commander of an air assault battalion. In 1992, he participated in combat operations to protect the state border of the CIS in Tajikistan.

Over the following years, Zhumakeyev held various command and staff positions within the Kazakh Armed Forces. His career path included serving as chief of staff and deputy unit commander, followed by a posting as commander of a military unit in Taldykorgan.

Since 2009, he has held senior positions in the Ministry of Defense and the Ground Forces. These roles included head of the combat training department, first deputy commander of the "Astana" regional command, and deputy commander-in-chief of the Ground Forces.

From 2015 to 2018, he commanded Kazakhstan's Air Assault Forces. Subsequently, he held leadership posts in the General Staff and underwent training at the National Defense University.

In March 2022, Almaz Zhumakeyev was once again appointed Commander of the Air Assault Forces before his latest promotion to Deputy Minister.