Necip Torumtay

Who was Necip Torumtay?

Necip Torumtay was the 20th Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of Turkey.

He graduated Turkish Military Academy with the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1944, and in 1946, he graduated the Army Artillery School. He served in various artillery units and later as an instructor at the artillery school. In 1954, Torumtay became a staff officer following his further education in the academy. Until 1970, he served at various units and then in Tokyo, Japan as a military attaché.

In 1970, Necip Torumtay was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. He became a Major General in 1974. Four years later, he was appointed Lieutenant General, and finally in 1982 General. In the era following the 1980 Turkish coup d'état, Necip Torumtay held important top positions within military circles.

On 2 July 1987, Necip Torumtay was appointed as the Commander of the Turkish Land Forces, and shortly after on 24 July he became the Chief of the Turkish General Staff. He resigned on 3 December 1990 before his term of office ended. He is the first Chief of Staff who resigned his post before the end of office in the history of Turkish Republic.

It was asserted that his resignation was due to the government's position on the Gulf War. It was told that he was strongly opposed to President Turgut Özal's stance in favor of joining the coalition forces in the war against Iraq.