Colonel Matti Sopanen

Branch Head Finnish Army Plans Directorate, J5, Concepts & Policy

Colonel, M.Sc. LogMgmt, Matti Sopanen currently serves as the Branch Head of Concepts&Policy in J5 Plans at Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC), NATO. He is responsible of policy, conceptual, doctrinal, and operational research coordination regarding Enablement and Sustainment within JSEC´s work strands. During his latest assignments, Colonel Sopanen has served as a Head of Department Military Technology at the Finnish National Defence University (FNDU), a Head of Department Plans and Project Management at the Joint Systems´ Centre, a Branch Head of Joint Capability Program Management at the Finnish Defence Command, a Commander of Logistics Battalion at Kainuu Brigade, a Principal Teacher of Sustainment and Logistics at the FNDU, and a senior staff officer (logistics) at the Finnish Defence Command. He also has served in multinational missions in Balkans, and in Middle-East. Colonel Sopanen was promoted in 2023, and he is decorated with the Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland, the Medal for Military Merits, and the Logistics Cross of Merits with clasp.