Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov

Gurbanguly Malikgulyyevich Berdymukhammedov was born in the village of Barabab in the Geoktepe district in 1957. He graduated from the Turkmen State Medical Institute in 1979. He holds a master's degree in medical sciences.

From 1979 to 1997, he occupied various posts in the system of the Ministry of Healthcare and medical industry of Turkmenistan: teacher; associate professor of preventive dentistry; dean of the stomatology department of the Turkmen State Medical Institute; director of the Stomatology Center of the Ministry of healthcare and medical industry of Turkmenistan. In 1997, he was appointed minister of healthcare and medical industry of Turkmenistan, chief executive of the State fund for development of healthcare of Turkmenistan and acting rector of the Turkmen State Medical Institute.

On April 3, 2001, by the decree of the President of Turkmenistan, he was appointed deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan.

By resolution of the State Security Council of Turkmenistan and the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, he was appointed acting president of Turkmenistan, supreme commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Turkmenistan on December 21, 2006.

He was awarded Orders "Galkynys" ("Revival"), "Prezidentin Yyldyzy" ("Star of the President") as well as the Order of the President of Turkmenistan "Garassyz Turkmenistana bolan beyik soygusi ucin" ("For the great love of independent Turkmenistan"), and Medals "Watana bolan soygusi ucin" ("For the love of Motherland"), "Turkmenistanyn Garassyzlygynyn 11 yyllygyna" ("the 11th anniversary of independence of Turkmenistan").

On February 14, 2007, he was elected president of Turkmenistan for a 5-year term.

Source: University Programs and Events Planning Resources, September 2007