Cdre Stipanović succeeds Radm Hranj as Navy Commander

General Drago Lovrić expressed appreciation to Rear admiral Hranj for his contribution to the development of the Croatian Navy and commended his remarkable seaman and flag officer qualities, and tasked the new commander with further development of the Navy’s potential, primarily the Navy’s missile capabilities, countermine capabilities, integrate radar imaging of the entire Adriatic area, improve the the envirnmental actions capabilities and launch the construction of the offshore  patrol vessel.
Cdre Stipanović in his address upon assuming the duty emphasised the knowledge, capabilites, training and education as keys to success , and pledged to meet the upcoming demands.
Rear admiral Hranj, the newly appointed Director of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, extended his appreciation to his staff in the Croatian Navy for their support and successful co-operation and expressed his conviction in successful development of the Croatian Navy
Commodore Predrag Stipanović was born in in Osijek, Croatian in 1964. He graduated from the Naval Academy in Split and joined the Croatian Navy in 1991, where he performed a number of duties, to include commanding the Missile Boat RTOP -21 and Navy Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander (exercised since early 2013). Cdre Stipanović attended the NATO Defense College and Naval Staff College in Newport, USA.  He is a holder of the Memorial Medal of the Croatian Homeland War, the Memorial Medal of the Homeland’s Gratitude, of the Order of the Croatian Trefoil and of the Order of Vice-Roy Jelačić.