Kimmo Kohvakka appointed as Director General for Rescue Services

On 4 October, the Government appointed Kimmo Kohvakka, Master of Arts in Military Science, as Director General for Rescue Services. He will take up his new post on 1 November and his term of office will last for five years.

Kohvakka is currently Director of the Division of Rescue Services and Preparedness at the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland. He has previously worked, for example, at the Finnish National Rescue Association and in various positions at the City of Helsinki Rescue Department and the Central Uusimaa Rescue Department.

The Director General for Rescue Services manages the operations of the Department for Rescue Services at the Ministry of the Interior. The Department guides and directs rescue services and maintains oversight of their coverage and quality, has charge of the preparedness and organisation of rescue services at national level, and coordinates the activities of various ministries and sectors in the field of rescue services and their development. The duties of the Department also include guidance and supervision of the Emergency Services College and the Emergency Response Centre Administration. The Director General for Rescue Services is a member of the Ministry’s management group.

The Ministry of the Interior is the ministry for internal security and migration. Its key duty is to prepare legislation concerning the police, rescue services, emergency response centre operations, border management, maritime search and rescue and migration.

Inquiries

Jukka Aalto, Director General, tel. +358 40 570 5124, jukka.aalto@intermin.fi