Zviad SHANAVA (Ph.D.)
Zviad Shanava is currently serving as the strategic leadership and defense planning course director of Defense and Security Training-Analysis Center at Defence Institutional Building school, Ministry of Defense of Georgia. In this capacity, he directs the strategic leadership, national defense planning and resource planning (Logistics, Supply Chain, Finance/budget) management module in the Defense and Security Senior Program. He also oversees students in the faculty and practical exercises and testing process.
Z. Shanava was born in Georgia (Tsageri), on June 20, 1971. He joined military service in 1992 as a lieutenant and is serving in the Georgian Defense Forces.
He has held many key and essential positions, from tactical to strategic. His primary functions are defense resource planning, logistics, material management (include procurement management), and finance. During military service, his areas of responsibility were: Budget planning; Finance; Army medical support; Armament, ammunition and military equipment planning; maintenance; fuel supply; food supply and feeding planning; infrastructure management and development; furniture and inventory delivery; other logistics operations management - including transportation and regional distribution of supplies.
Z. Shanava deployed in support of logistics operations for Iraqi Freedom as a G4/Logistics of an infantry brigade of Georgian armed forces. Also led support operations (sustainment, deployment, and redeployment) for Georgian troops in Afghanistan (ISAF, RSM) and Africa mission in Mali and the Central Africa Republic.
In the framework of US - Georgia government cooperation he was appointed as a program coordinator of the Georgia Train and Equip Program (GTEP). In this capacity, his responsibility was the HQ administration, financial and material management of the program. The GTEP program was an American-sponsored $64-million program aimed at increasing the capabilities of the Georgian armed forces by training and equipping units with light weapons, vehicles, and communications. The program enabled the US to expedite funding for the Georgian military for Operation Enduring Freedom.
In parallel to his primary job he is a professor (Ph.D.) at the Georgian Technical University and teaches subjects, such as Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Distribution, Warehousing, Business Administration, Economics, Finance, etc. at the bachelor and master’s levels.
He is married to Nadejda Shanava, and has three children; Vazha Shanava (25 years) – student of Master's Studies at the University of Tartu (Estonia), Mariam Shanava (18 years) – student of Ilia State University of Georgia (Bachelor program), Nikoloz Shanava - 11 years.
EDUCATION
• 1996 - Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University of Georgia. Finances and Credit. (Bachelor of Economics)
• 2000 - Military School - Istanbul, Turkey. Financial and Logistic Management Program.
• 2002 - NATO Military Observer Course, PFP Training Center. Ankara, Turkey.
• 2006 - Netherlands Defense Resource Planning Course. Defense Financial Management and PPBS – (Planning, Programming and Budgeting System).
• 2009 GIPA - Georgian Institute of Public Affairs. Tbilisi, Georgia. International Law and Diplomacy.
• 2011 - Georgian Technical University. Tbilisi, Georgia. Economics and Business Engineering (Ph.D.).
• 2014 – US Army Logistic University. Fort Lee, Virginia, TLog - Theater Logistics Planners Program (operational/strategic level). SOLE – Maseter Logisticion.
• 2021 – Command and Staff College of Georgia. Sustainment Operations Training Program.
KEY ASSIGNMENTS
• 1992-1997 Ministry of Defence of Georgia, Medical Command, Military Hospital. Finance Management Branch – Chief;
• 1997-1998 Ministry of Defence of Georgia, Finance Planning Department, Defense Budget Planning branch – deputy;
• 2000-2001 Ministry of Defence of Georgia, Finance planning Department, Defense Budget Planning branch – Chief;
• 2001-2003 Ministry of Defence of Georgia, Finance and Budget Department – deputy;
• 2002-2004 Georgia Train and Equip Program. Infantry Battalion. Program Coordinator - HQ Officer.
• 2003-2005 Ministry of Defence of Georgia, Military Budget Planning Service – deputy.
• 2005-2007 General Staf of GAF, J4 - Logistic Department, Chief.
• 2007-2008 General Staf of Georgian Armed Forces, III infantry brigade – Head of G4/logistics. Participation in Military Peacekeeping Operation in Iraq (Iraqi Freedom). Brigade logistics and Sustainment Management in the theater operation.
• 2008-2012 Georgian Foreign Intelligence Service. Administration Departament. Head of material and resources management branch.
• 2012-2013 Joint Staff of GAF, Head of J4 - Logistics.
• 2013-2014 General Staff of GAF, Adviser of Chief of General Staff – for Logistics, Finance, Material Management, Force Development, Resource planning, Budgeting.
• 2014-2015 General Staff of GAF, Logistic and Resource Planning Department J 4/8 – Chief.
• 2015-2016 Army Logistic Sustainment Command GAF – special equipment and armament maintenance service - Head.
• 2016-2017 General Staff of GAF, Head of J4 - Logistics.
• 2017-2020 Diplomacy Service - defense attache of the Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia).
• 2020 - course director of Defense and Security Training-Analysis Center of Defence Institutional Building, Ministry of Defense of Georgia.
ALSO, HE IS:
- External expert of Georgian Logistics Association, at supply chain management and Distribution, multimodal transportation and assessment of the transit corridors.
- Expert of Association of Freight Forwarders of Georgia, International Movement and Coordination of Hazardous and Dangerous Goods - Export/Import and Transit issues using national transport and infrastructure capabilities in the line of the communication system;
- SOLE - The International Society of Logistics – Demonstration Master Logistician in partnership with the Army Logistics University (USA – Fort Lee, Virginia).
CERTIFICATES/DIPLOMAS
• Finance and Budget management;
• Resource planning;
• Logistics;
• International Law and Diplomacy;
• Military Observer, peacekeeping operations;
• Sustainment Operation Planning.
LANGUAGES: Georgian (Native), English, Turkish, Russian.
AWARDS:
• 2002 - Military Courage Medal;
• 2003 - Military Courage Medal;
• 2008 - US Army Commendation Medal for Operation Iraqi Freedom;
• 2013 - Military Medal 1st grade for Blameless Service;
• 2013 - Military Honor Medal;
• 2016 - Military Honor Medal;
• 2020 - Medal for successful participation of military peacekeeping operations;
• 2021 - Medal for 30 years outstanding military service in the armed forces of Georgia.
