Mr. Garisons has been the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia since August 2015. As the State Secretary, he is the highest civil servant. He is responsible for the defence planning, organization, personnel, resource management, and finances of the Ministry of Defence. He provides the Minister with the advice for all decisions.
Before taking up this post, Mr.Garisons was the Undersecretary of State – Policy Director. He has been working at the Ministry of Defence since September 2005. Being promoted to several positions, including the Deputy Director of the Crisis Management and Mobilisation Department, the Director of the Crises Management Department, and the Policy Director, Mr. Garisons has acquired notable experience and knowledge in defence policy, planning, and crisis management.
Before his career in the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Garisons worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia from June 1996 until September 2005 and was posted at the Embassy in Norway. He is also an active member of the National Guard and serves in the NG Student Battalion.
Mr. Garisons has a Master’s degree in History from the University of Latvia and a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.