Decree Law No. 674 – National Defense Ministry

Decree Law No. 674 determined the analogous ranks of civil servants in the National Defense Ministry with those in in the Turkish Armed Forces. The rank of undersecretary is equivalent to full general; the National Defense Ministry rector is equivalent to lieutenant general; deputy undersecretaries, supervisory board chairmen and general managers are equivalent to major general; deputy general managers and independent department heads are equivalent to brigadier general; and department heads are equivalent to colonel. According to the decree law, equivalent ranks are essential to regulating military protocol relations. Civilian managers also benefit from lodging and social facilities in accordance with their rank. Ali Fidan, the first civilian undersecretary for national defense and a former governor of Düzce, was granted the equivalent rank of full general.