Joseph Sarkis

Rear Admiral (RAdm) (ret.) Joseph Sarkis retired from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) after a 37-year career, during which he held a variety of command and staff positions, including most recently, Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning (DCoS-P) from August 2017 to December 2019. 

In his role as LAF DCoS-P, RAdm. Sarkis was responsible for strategic planning, to include capability development, of human, material, financial resources, and versatile operational issues, to cover maritime security, border protection (land and sea) developing and establishing concepts, doctrine, and metrics to measure effectiveness. He led the strategic dialogue between LAF and the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon for the implementation of UNSCR 1701.

Before DCoS-P, he was the Naval Assistant to the LAF DCoS-Operations from June 2012 to July 2017 and commanded LAF Naval Operations from August 2004 to June 2012. During that time, he led successful joint efforts countering smuggling attempts and facilitating emergency relief assistance, search and rescue, and recovery at sea, in addition to the delimitation of Lebanon's maritime boundaries, and drafting national laws related to sovereign maritime rights. 

He commanded the Naval Task Group dedicated to the protection of the Arab League summit, and the Francophone summit in Beirut, and negotiated arrangements with the United Nations Department of Peace Keeping Operations (UNDPKO) on the status and concept of operations for the Maritime Task Force-UNIFIL related to the implementation of the UNSCR 1701.

He was honored with numerous national and international commendations and awards for outstanding leadership, academic achievements, and assigned professional duties.