Prabowo Swears In Maruli as Deputy Military Commander
President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak as Deputy Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) in a ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, October 15, 2026. The appointment marks the eighth reshuffle of Prabowo's administration since he assumed office on October 20, 2024, coming just two weeks after the seventh reshuffle on October 1, 2026.
Maruli will concurrently serve as Head of the National Border and Remote Area Management Agency, a position that carries coordinating responsibility for Indonesia's land and maritime border policies. The agency, established in 2010 under Presidential Regulation No. 12, focuses on budget planning, policy coordination, and evaluation of border management efforts, though its authority does not extend to direct enforcement.
The appointment represents a position exchange with Gen. Tandyo Budi Revita, who has taken over as Army Chief of Staff. Tandyo, a 1991 graduate of the Military Academy who was born in Surakarta on February 21, 1969, had served as Deputy TNI Commander since August 10, 2025.
The ceremony proceeded in accordance with Presidential Decree Numbers 105/TNI/2026 and 106/TNI/2026, which formalized both the dismissal and appointment of the TNI Deputy Commander and the Army Chief of Staff. During the oath-taking, Maruli pledged his loyalty to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and the 1945 Constitution.
"I will uphold the ethics of the office I am undertaking with a full sense of responsibility. I will honor the Sapta Marga and the Soldier's Oath," Maruli declared as President Prabowo administered the oath.
The proceedings concluded with the official signing of the oath-taking declaration.
Career Background and Qualifications
Maruli brings extensive military experience to the deputy commander role, having graduated from the Indonesian Military Academy in 1992 from the Special Forces (Kopassus) Infantry branch. His career has been marked by progression through elite and strategic commands, including service as Commander of the Presidential Security Force (Paspampres) in 2018, Commander of Kodam IX/Udayana, and Commander of Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) from January 21, 2022.
Most recently, Maruli served as Army Chief of Staff since November 29, 2023, when he was promoted to the rank of four-star General, replacing General Agus Subiyanto. The Deputy TNI Commander position requires this four-star rank according to presidential regulation requirements. Maruli is the son-in-law of Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who previously served as Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment under President Joko Widodo.
Significance of the Deputy Commander Role
The position Maruli now holds carries particular historical significance. The Deputy TNI Commander post had been vacant for 25 years after President Abdurrahman Wahid removed it in September 2000, with Fachrul Razi being the last holder before the elimination. The position was reinstated in 2019 under Presidential Regulation No. 66/2019.
According to the regulation, the Deputy TNI Commander is tasked with coordinating the development of TNI forces to achieve interoperability among the three service branches and assists the Commander in daily matters. The position serves as a coordinator for armed forces power consolidation across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Additional Appointments
During the same ceremony, President Prabowo inaugurated new heads for two other key agencies. Lt. Gen. Kristomei Sianturi was appointed Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), while Satyawan Pudyatmoko took charge as Head of the National Peat and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN). These appointments form part of the broader restructuring of government leadership under the current administration.
