Georgian defence official awarded major US distinction

Georgian Armed Forces service member Vepkhvia Chalabashvili has been distinguished with the Legion of Merit, a prestigious honour issued by the United States Armed Forces, for his work as the former Defence Attache of Georgia to the United States.

Chalabashvili, a colonel of the Georgian army and deputy head of one of its departments, received the award — signed by US Secretary of Defence James Mattis and General Mark Milley, Chief of Staff of the US Army — at the National Defence University in the US earlier today.

Vice-Admiral Fitz Roegge, president of the university, bestowed the award to the Georgian colonel, who worked "worked tirelessly to promote strong bilateral ties between the United States and Georgia" during his work as the attache between 2012-2017.

The Georgian colonel was awarded by Vice-Admiral Fitz Roegge at the university. Photo: Georgia's embassy to the US.

An accompanying certificate for the award said the Georgian colonel was honoured for his "exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services".

The Legion of Merit ranks below the Silver Star and ahead of the Distinguished Flying Cross among some of the most prestigious military awards in the United States.

Announcing the news, The Embassy of Georgia to the United States noted the award was "one of the only two decorations to be issued as neck wear" and granted for "exceptional performance in command and senior staff duties".

Chalabashvili recently graduated from the US National Defence University.