ΕΜΥ, Εθνική Μετεωρολογική Υπηρεσία - Δελτία Καιρού, Προγνώσεις

Major General Andreas Kyriakides

Major General Andreas Kyriakides was the main and most important organiser of the Hellenic National Meteorological Service.

He was born in Athens in 1900 and graduated from the Naval Cadets Academy in 1920 as a Hellenic Royal Navy Ensign. In 1928 he was sent by the Hellenic Royal Navy to the National Meteorology School of France to complete his studies in Meteorology. During the years 1930-1931, under orders from the Ministry of Naval Affairs, he undertook the organisation of the Meteorological Service of the Ministry of Aviation (later known as HNMS). He was transferred to the Air Force in 1933 with the rank of Major.

His activity abroad was extensive. From 1933 until 1939 he represented Greece in all international conventions, committees and conferences of aviation and synoptic meteorology.

During World War II he offered valuable services to the Allied intelligence and was awarded the Gold Medal for Valour.

He was appointed Director of HNMS in 1945 and in 1947 he was elected Deputy Director of the International Meteorological Organisation. He remained in this position until 1951. Before he assumed his new duties he retired from the Air Force with the rank of Major General. In 1951 he was appointed Deputy General Secretary of the World Meteorological Organisation.

He taught Meteorology at the Naval Cadets Academy, the Aviation Academy, the HNMS Meteorology School and to civil aviation crews. His authorship was also remarkable, covering issues of naval, aeronautical and general meteorology as well as issues regarding the organisation of meteorological services. Andreas Kyriakides passed away in Athens in 1970.

To honour the personality of Major General Andreas Kyriakides, the HNMS named its Amphitheatre after him.