Captain (N) Lucian Grigorescu was born on 22 September 1973 in Constanța. He graduated from the "Mircea cel Bătrân" Naval Academy as an engineer in navigation, hydrography and maritime transport, earning the rank of Lieutenant in 1997. He was promoted to Captain in 2004, Lieutenant Commander in 2009, Commander in 2014, and Captain in 2018.

Career at sea

He began his career as executive officer of a riverine mine countermeasures boat (1997–1998), and was later appointed navigation officer aboard Minelayer 274 (2004–2005), executive officer aboard Minesweeper 25 (2005–2007), commanding officer of Minesweeper 25 (2007–2008), and commanding officer of Minesweeper 29 (2009–2012).

International missions

His sea tours include the second activation of Blackseafor (Turkey, Ukraine, Bulgaria – 2002), a one-month training period aboard a minehunter (Germany – 2002), Cooperative Partner 04 (Bulgaria – 2004), Blackseapartnership 05 (Turkey – 2005), MCM Livex (Bulgaria – 2005, 2007), MCM Livex (Romania – 2009), and Summer Storm Phiblex (Romania – 2011).

Leadership and representation positions

In 2010, he was the first Romanian officer assigned to EUNAVFOR OHQ Operation Atalanta (United Kingdom), as Info Ops Officer – CJ3/OSG, where he took part in the decision-making process that saved the lives of 10 sailors (including one Romanian) aboard MV Rhim.

Between 2012 and 2015, he served as Romania's representative to the Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Centre of Excellence (CJOS COE), Norfolk, United States, within the Strategic Plans and Policy Branch. He planned and coordinated the first historic visit of the Chief of the Romanian Navy Staff to USFFC / HQ SACT / CJOS COE, as well as the historic visit of the Deputy Commander of US Fleet Forces Command.

Between 2015 and 2016, he served in the International Relations Branch of the Romanian Navy Staff. From 2016 to 2017, he was part of the Combined Strategic Analysis Group at US Central Command, as Strategic Analyst and Action Officer, coordinating the Romanian military and civilian community in Tampa, Florida.

Between 2017 and 2019, he served as Chief of the Protocol and Representation Office of the Romanian Navy Staff and Chief of Cabinet to the Chief of the Navy Staff, proposing the standardisation of protocol-related documents and processes, including a Precedence Order for the Romanian Navy.

Between 2019 and 2023, he served as the military representative of the Chief of the Defence Staff to NATO Allied Command Transformation, Norfolk, United States, contributing to numerous high-level bilateral and multilateral visits, to the operationalisation of a working point on the Ministry of National Defence's administrative network, and to the standardisation of the Military Representation's activities.

Education and professional development

His professional training includes: NATO Communication Course (Romania, 2002); Ship's Command Course (Romania, 2004); International Leadership and Management (US, 2006); Command and Operations School (US, 2006); Expeditionary Warfare School, US Marine Corps University (2009); Master's degree in Organisational Management and Human Resources (Romania, 2011); Advanced Multinational Joint Operations Course, Romanian National Defence University (2015); Higher Command Studies Course, Baltic Defence College (Estonia, 2019); Executive Master in Strategic Leadership and Digital Transformation, Center for Strategic Defense Studies (Italy / US, 2021). Since 2021, he has been enrolled in the NATO Professional Doctoral Programme.

He was appointed associate instructor at the Naval Forces Application School, developing young leaders newly graduated from the Naval Academy, and contributing to reinforcing the core values of the Romanian Naval Forces — Honour, Loyalty, Professionalism.

Published works

• Leadership in the Naval Forces
• Camouflaged Emotions — Stoicism in the Armed Forces
• EUNAVFOR Atalanta — The First EU Naval Operation
• Maritime Cyber Security — Steps and Initiatives
• Mentally Strong People: Nature and Individual Attitude
• Effective Leadership: The Universality of Leadership and Its Essential Role in Career Development
• Snapshot Paper — Coalition Presence in Iraq — Beneficial to Iran?
• Strategy Paper — Iran Presidential Election (May 2017)
• Strategy Paper — Iran: Threat or Opportunity in the Middle East
• The Strategic Importance of the Danube in the Current Security Context (December 2022, NATO HQ SACT)
• The Strategic Importance of the Danube in the Context of a Future Black Sea Maritime Security Strategy (May 2023, Romanian Military Thinking)

Awards

• The Honorific Insignia for Service (Romania, 2010, 2015, 2020)
• European Security and Defence Policy Service Medal (United Kingdom, 2010)
• Meritorious Service Medal for Diplomacy (US, 2015)
• The Defence Staff's Emblem of Honour (2018)
• The Romanian Armed Forces Emblem of Honour (2018)
• The Romanian Naval Forces Emblem of Honour (2022)
• The Romanian Armed Forces Emblem of Merit, 3rd Class (2023)
• Certificate of Commendation (NATO / US, 2023)

Family

Captain (N) Lucian Grigorescu has one daughter, Melisa.