Military Commander Promotes Major General Lucky Avianto to Head of Regional Defence Command III

Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subianto has carried out a reshuffle within his ranks. According to gathered information, one of the military officials affected by the reshuffle is the Commander of Komando Gabungan Wilayah Pertahanan (Regional Defence Command) III.

The Armed Forces Commander is promoting Major General Lucky Avianto to the position of Commander of Regional Defence Command III, replacing Lieutenant General Bambang Trisnohadi. With his new appointment, Avianto, who is a graduate of the first batch of SMA Taruna Nusantara, automatically assumes the rank of three-star general, or lieutenant general.

Avianto is a top graduate (Adhi Makayasa) of the Military Academy (Akmil) in 1996 and achieved the best student award at Seskoad Officers Training Course in 2011. This Vira Jati award recipient was commissioned by President Prabowo Subianto several months ago as Commander of Kodam (Military Regional Command) XXIV/Mandala Trikora.

Despite holding the position of Commander of Military Regional Command XXIV Mandala Trikora, this officer—recipient of the Wira Adhi Nugraha award from the Armed Forces Staff and College in 2019 and the Best Academic Award for Army Personnel at Lemhanas PPSA XXIV in 2023—has been entrusted with the additional role of Commander of Koops (Operations Command) Habema.

Known as a feared figure among Papua’s Armed Criminal Groups (KKB), Avianto is renowned as a combat general, having frequently led his forces directly through Papua’s forests in carrying out the duty to safeguard national sovereignty and public safety in the eastern reaches of the Indonesian Republic.

Whilst representing a threat to Papua’s separatist groups, the handling of these separatist elements is not conducted solely through military approaches, but also through humanitarian methods emphasising the welfare of the Papuan people.

In his daily work, Avianto is frequently seen engaging closely with communities, particularly in joint efforts to develop educational and healthcare access, build infrastructure, and support local residents and farmers, including former and sympathetic members of Papua’s armed criminal groups.

This approach has proven effective in garnering public sympathy, including from members or sympathisers of Papua’s armed criminal groups who have gradually come to support the Armed Forces’ presence as a motor for development and welfare on the Cenderawasih land.

The humanitarian methods pursued by Avianto have proven particularly damaging to Papua’s armed criminal groups’ propaganda efforts, as the population has become aware that separatist struggle is not only illegal but also counterproductive to Papua’s future.

The approach initiated by Avianto has opened eyes and changed the perceptions of the Papuan people, where they are beginning to understand that the promises and terror of armed criminal groups are not solutions, but a misguided path that sacrifices Papua’s future.

With his new mandate as Commander of Regional Defence Command III, Avianto is expected to continue upholding national sovereignty and Indonesian Republic authority in eastern Indonesia, covering land (the Maluku Islands and Papua Island), sea (waters surrounding the Maluku Islands, Papua Island and ALKI-3b and surrounding waters), and air (airspace above the Maluku Islands, Papua Island and ALKI-3b and surrounding waters).

Avianto graduated in 1993 from the first batch of SMA Taruna Nusantara Magelang. He then continued his education at the Military Academy, graduating in 1996 with the highest honours of top graduate (Adhi Makayasa).

Avianto is also a top graduate of the Seskoad Officers Course 49th Batch in 2011, top graduate of the Armed Forces Staff and College 46th Batch in 2019, and top academic graduate at Lemhanas PPSA XXIV in 2023. He specialises in Red Beret Infantry and Kopassus commando operations.

Beyond formal military education, Avianto has achieved distinction as a top participant in several Armed Forces and Army training courses, including Combat Intelligence Officers Training at Military Academy in 1996/1997, English Language Course at Army Headquarters in 1999, Strategic Planning Staff Course in 2016, and Joint Operations Course at Armed Forces Headquarters in 2017.

Avianto is not only accomplished in education but also formidable in the field, with various achievements in operational areas both domestically and internationally. Domestically, this Kopassus Commando Badge holder has been involved in the Maluku Operations and Aceh Operations.

Internationally, he has served as a Military Observer in Congo in 2009 and as Commander of the Indonesian Mechanical Battalion (Indobatt) Congo XXIII-G/Unifil in Lebanon.

Avianto began his military career in the Kopassus commando unit. As a second and first lieutenant and captain, he served as Company Commander of Yon-23 Group 2 Kopassus, Intelligence Officer of Yon-23 Group 2 Kopassus, Head of Intelligence at the Operations Command in Aceh, Platoon Commander of Battalion 31 Group 3 Kopassus, and Head of Operations of Group 1 Kopassus.

After promotion to major, Avianto was entrusted as Deputy Commander of Battalion 11 Group 1 Kopassus and Commander’s Personal Staff at Kopassus Headquarters. As lieutenant colonel, Avianto held positions as Commander of Infantry Battalion 400/Raider (2012), Commander of Infantry Battalion 500/Raider (2012–2014), Commander of Military District 0829/Bangkalan (2014–2015), and Deputy Head of Operations at Kopassus Headquarters (2015–2016).

His career accelerated after his promotion to colonel. He was entrusted with positions as Head of Strategic Operations at Kopassus Headquarters (2016–2017), Head of Operations at Kopassus Headquarters (2017–2018), Commander of Para Commando Group 1/Kopassus (2018–2019), Director of Covid-19 Task Force Operations Centre (2020), Deputy Head of Operations at Military Regional Command XVIII/Kasuari (2020–2021), and Commander of Military District XII/Tanjungpura (2021–2022).

Avianto was promoted to major general in January 2022, when he was appointed as Head of State Intelligence Agency Training Centre. A year later, he entered the first circle of the Army Chief of Staff as Special Staff in 2023. Subsequently, he served as Deputy Head of Operations at Army Headquarters for Strategic Intelligence, until being appointed Commander of Habema Operations Command in 2024.

On 6 August 2025, President Prabowo Subianto entrusted him with the position of Commander of Military Regional Command XXIV/Mandala Trikora, and now, Lucky Avianto has been given the new mandate as Commander of Regional Defence Command III.