Chief of Defence Force (Timor-Leste)

The Chief of the Defence Forces (Portuguese: Chefe Estado Maior General Forças Armadas) is the head of the Timor-Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL). They are responsible for the administration and the operational control of the Timor-Leste military. The current chief is Falur Rate Laek [id], succeeding Lere Anan Timur.^[1]

Chief of the Defence Forces
Chefe Estado Maior General Forças Armadas
Flag of the Timor-Leste Defence Force
Incumbent Lieutenant General Falur Rate Laek [id] since 28 January 2022
Ministry for Defence and Security
Member of	Timor-Leste Defence Force
Reports to	Minister for Defence and Security
Residence	Dili, Timor-Leste
Formation	20 May 2002
First holder	Taur Matan Ruak
Deputy	Deputy Chief of the Defence Force

Commanders of the Falintil

No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Ref.
1		Rogério Lobato	20 August 1975
2		Fernando do Carmo [id]		7 December 1975
3		Nicolau dos Reis Lobato	May 1976	31 December 1978
4		Xanana Gusmão	1981	20 November 1992
5		Ma'huno Bulerek Karathayano [id]	1992	5 April 1993
6		Nino Konis Santana	April 1993	11 March 1998
7		Taur Matan Ruak	1998	1 February 2001

Chiefs of the Defence Forces

No.	Portrait	Commander	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Ref.
1		Ruak, TaurMajor general Taur Matan Ruak (born 1956)	20 May 2002	1 September 2011	9 years, 104 days	[2]
2		Timur, LereLieutenant general Lere Anan Timur (born 1952)	6 October 2011	28 January 2022	10 years, 114 days	[3]
3		Laek, FalurLieutenant general Falur Rate Laek [id] (born 1955)	28 January 2022	Incumbent	3 years, 184 days	[4]