RIYADH — Deputy Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Mutlaq Bin Salem Al-Azaima, who has recently been assigned to carry out the duty of the Commander of the Joint Forces, has proven his mettle in successfully accomplishing several key missions. He has shown his leadership skills and capabilities with scoring successes in the tasks assigned to him after proving his caliber in the military field. A holder of bachelor degree in military science with specialization in armored vehicles from King Abdulaziz Military College, Al-Azaima completed his military education by obtaining a master's degree in military science from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College and fellow of the Military College at the Nasser Higher Military Academy. Al-Azaima began his career in the command of a shield faction and then served as the commander of the supply and maintenance faction, until taking over as assistant intelligence officer in the fourth brigade of the Royal Saudi Land Forces during the Kuwait liberation war. He then served as assistant commander of the brigade and then commander of the brigade battalion. Al-Azaima became commander of the Peninsula Shield forces of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, which were able to foil the Iranian plot to trigger riots in Bahrain. Then he took over as the Command of the Southern Region and supervised the "South Shield" plan. He also managed the "Decisive Storm" and the "Restoration of Hope" military operations, proving all his mettle and caliber, after which he was appointed as Commander of the Eastern Region and given the task of preparing plans and supervising military exercises. In view of his vast military experience and brilliant achievements, Al-Azaima was appointed military advisor in the office of minister of defense to advise on a wide array of strategic, military and planning aspects. A royal decree in 1439 Hijri year upgraded his rank to lieutenant general and appointed him as deputy chief of the General Staff with a mission to oversee the comprehensive defense plans, raise the combat readiness and build the armed forces. Monday's royal order appointed him as the Commander of the Joint Forces in order to take over its command in executing the Armed Forces' plans to confront the emerging threats and fulfill the requirements necessitated by the security environment in the region.
