He was born on February 11, 1965, in Vesela Dolyna village, Tarutynsk region, Odesa Oblast.

Education:

1982 — he finished Vesela Dolyna Secondary School

1987 — he graduated from S.M.Kirova Higher Military Command School

1997 — he graduated from Military Academy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Candidate of Science, Professor

Honorable Citizen of Kharkiv City

Carrier:

He joined the army in August 1983.

He served as: leading officer of platoon, company, chief of staff of battalion, commanding officer of battalion, regiment, brigade, chief of staff of division.

He was Chief of Directorate for Combat and Special Training of Internal Forces of the Ministry of Interior of Ukraine in March 2002 when he was appointed as the Chief of Academy of Internal Forces of the Ministry of Interior of Ukraine.

On February 28, 2014 — by the Presidential Decree of Ukraine No. 171/2014 he was appointed as the Commander of Internal Forces of the Ministry of Interior of Ukraine.

On April 15, 2014 — Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appointed Stepan Poltorak as the Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine.

On October 14, 2014 — Verkhovna Rada appointed Colonel General Stepan Poltorak as the Minister of Defense of Ukraine.

On December 2, 2014 — he was appointed as the Minister of Defense of Ukraine by Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of new convocation.

On 14 April, 2016, was appointed as Minister of Defense of Ukraine.

His merits and awards include:

Order Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd degree,

Medal For Combat Merits,

Medal For Impeccable Service, 3rd degree.