Stefanos Gkikas
Stefanos Gkikas was born in Corfu in 1960.
He graduated from the Hellenic Naval Academy with Distinction. He is also graduate of the US Navy Operational Training Center in San Diego, USA.
He has a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Monterey, CA, USA, a Master’s in Strategic and Defense Studies and a Master’s in Naval Science and Strategy.
He speaks English fluently. He has also knowledge of French language.
As a Naval Officer, he served on board HS "LEMNOS" (Frigate F-451) and participated in the ship's important mission in the Persian Gulf (1991-1992). He also served as Commanding Officer of HS "ANNINOS", a Missile Patrol Boat during the IMIA crisis (1995-1996) and as Commanding Officer of HS "SALAMIS" (Frigate F-455), Flagship of the Hellenic Navy (2003-2004).
From 2000 to 2003, he served in the National Military Delegation of Greece at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
From 2004 to 2007, he was Spokesperson and Director of Information and Press at the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense.
In July 2007, he resigned from the Hellenic Navy with the rank of Admiral (L.H.) and entered into politics, joining the New Democracy Party. He has been honored with the highest awards and commemorations provided for his rank.
During the period 2010-2014, he was appointed by the then President of the New Democracy Party, Antonis Samaras, as Deputy Head of the National Defense Sector of the Party. In July 2015, he was appointed respectively, by the next President of the Party, Vangelis Meimarakis, as Deputy Head of Tourism.
He was elected Member of Parliament representing Corfu, (New Democracy Party) in the elections of January 2015, July 2019 and May and June 2023.
He served as Vice-President of the Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Parliament, Secretary of the Standing Committee on Armaments Programs and Contracts, Member of the Standing Committee on Production and Trade and Member of the Special Standing Committee on Environmental Protection.
He also served as Member of the Hellenic Parliamentary Delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and as Chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with the United Kingdom.
He regularly writes articles for press and electronic media.
He has two daughters, 25 and 29 years old.