In 1977 he started studies at the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia and graduated in 1982, with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (podporucznik marynarki).

On 3 May 2007 he was promoted to rear admiral and became a deputy chief of Polish Navy Staff in Gdynia.

On 11 November 2007 he was promoted to commodore (NATO code OF-6) and became a deputy chief of Polish Navy Staff in Gdynia.

On 11 November 2007 he was promoted to rear admiral (NATO code OF-7) and appointed the Polish Navy's commander-in-chief.

He was listed on the flight manifest[2] of the Tupolev Tu-154 of the 36th Special Aviation Regiment carrying the President of Poland Lech Kaczyński which crashed near Smolensk-North airport near Smolensk, Russia, on 10 April 2010, killing all aboard.