He graduated from the Turkish Military Academy in 1969 and the Infantry School in 1970.

In 1975 he attended the London School of Economics for post graduates studies in International Diplomacy.

Following his graduation from Army War College in 1980 as a staff officer, he respectively served as operations plan officer at Turkish Peace Forces HQ in Cyprus, branch chief and then as the secretary general at the General Secretariat of Turkish Land Forces, chief of staff at the Turkish Military Academy, and as the commander of the 17th Infantry Regiment.

Having promoted to brigadier general in 1995, he served as the commander of the 172nd Armored Brigade and as the Chief of Internal Security Operations Department, TLFC.

After his promotion to major general in 1999, he assumed the command of the 39th Mechanized Infantry Division and of the Army War College.