BIOGRAPHY OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE

The Honorable, Mr. Gazmend Oketa

Mr. Gazmend Oketa
Minister of Defense of the Republic of Albania 
 
           

General Data

Name:                    Gazmend
Father’s Name:      Nuri
Surname:               Oketa
Date of Birth:         14 dhjetor 1968
Place of Birth:        Durrės
Nationality:             Albanian

Political Career

Mr. Gazmend Oketa was appointed Minister of Defense on March 28, 2008. He is the 32nd Minister of Defense of the Republic of Albania.
From March 2007 until March 2008, he has served as a member of the Council of Ministers in the capacity of Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania.
For about two years, Mr. Oketa was the spokesperson of the Democratic Party.
During 2006, he served as the consecutive Head of the Presidency of CEI (Central European Initiative Parliamentary Dimension).
In July 2005, he was elected Member of Parliament in electoral Zone 29 of the city of Durrės.
Until March 2007, he served as a Member of the Parliamentary Commission for Legal Issues, Administration and Human Rights.
In 2004, he was elected Deputy Head of the Democratic Party Branch for the city of Durrės.
 
During 2003-2005, Gazmend Oketa has served as a member of Municipal Council of the City of Durrės.

Work Experience

Mr. Gazmend Oketa started work in 1994-1995 as a Lecturer and Member of the academic staff of the Faculty of Construction Engineering in Tirana, due to his excellent scores, received upon his graduation from university studies.
During 1995-1997 he worked as a specialist in the Project Implementation of the World Bank Project for the Rehabilitation of the Water Supply in Durrės.
 
During 1997-2003, he worked as a planning engineer and private administrator in a construction enterprise.

From 2003 until 2004, Mr. Oketa worked as a consultant for “VOITH SIEMENS” Austria, in the Project for the Rehabilitation of the Bistrica Hydropower plant.
 

Education

Mr. Oketa was born in Durrės on December 14, 1968. He attended and graduated, with excellent results from the general High School “Gjergj Kastrioti” in this city.  During 1987-1993, he attended university studies and was awarded the Degree as an Engineer for Civil-Industrial Constructions at the Faculty of Construction Engineering of the Polytechnic University of Tirana.
During 1993-1994, Gazmend Oketa attended post-graduate studies at Siegen University, Germany.

Civil Status

Gazmend Oketa lives in his hometown. He is married to Adela Oketa, and has two children, his daughter Ana and his son Jon.