Brigadier General (ret.) Konstantinos Grapsas is a Project Officer at the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), a role he assumed in July 2022 following his distinguished career in the Hellenic Air Force.
Having joined the Hellenic Air Force Academy in 1989, he excelled as a fighter pilot before serving as an instructor pilot and later commanding an Air Training Squadron. His expertise extended to the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, where he served to the Flight Safety Directorate and represented the Air Force as its Spokesman.
His final assignments within the Hellenic Armed Forces were at the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, where he served in the NATO-related Office before becoming Head of Unit for the European Union Office.
On the international stage, he served for three years in the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels, where he worked as the deputy to the Senior Military Advisor to the Managing Director for the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and Crisis Response.
Following his retirement, he transitioned to the European Commission, as a Project Officer in DG DEFIS. In this role, he oversees the implementation of several EDF/EDIDP projects, contributes to the evaluations of new ones and supports the European defence initiatives, leveraging his extensive operational and strategic expertise.
In addition to his extensive military and strategic experience, Brigadier General Grapsas holds a Diploma in Air Science from the Hellenic Air Force Academy. He has furthered his academic credentials with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, a Master of Arts in International Relations and Security from the University of Macedonia, and a Master of Arts in Communication and New Journalism from the Open University of Cyprus.
At Airbus Summit 2025, Brigadier General Grapsas will share insights into the evolving landscape of European defence industry and the initiatives the EU has put in place to help build future defence capabilities of the European Armed Forces.
He will present key opportunities for strengthening Europe's defence industry through the European Defence Fund programme, providing valuable perspectives on how the European defence industry can make the most of this initiative.
Join Konstantinos Grapsas at Airbus Summit 2025 for 'Stronger together: European innovation for helicopters' on 25 March at 14:00 CET. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into the importance of leveraging the power of innovation across Europe.
