Captain (N) Mikko Laakkonen was born in 1973. After his military service in Häme Regiment in 1993-1994, he joined the Military Academy and graduated in 1998 as 1st Lieutenant. As a junior officer he served in Suomenlinna Regiment as an instructor, fortress’ executive officer and unit Commanding officer.

In 2010, Captain Laakkonen attended the General Staff Officer Course at the Finnish National Defence University, graduating in 2011, whereafter he was assigned to serve as Regimental Officer in Suomenlinna Regiment. In 2013, he was assigned to Navy Command, plans and policy division (M5) and in 2014 to Defense Command J5 working on action and resource planning.

Captain Laakkonen has vast experience from international assignments. He has served as a military observer in United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan, as an operations planner in United Mission in Sudan as well as a force generator at NATO ACO SHAPE in Belgium.

In 2019, he was assigned to be the CO of Suomenlinna Regiment in the Coastal Brigade and in 2021 Head of Section responsible for Strategic Planning in the Navy Command. Captain Laakkonen was assigned in June 2023 to his current post as the Chief of Plans (M5) in the Navy Command Finland in Turku.

Alongside military academic degrees, Captain Laakkonen has studied Political Science and Political History in the University of Helsinki and Business Administration in the Helsinki School of Economics. Captain Laakkonen enjoys reading historical novels and exercising different sports, notably indoor floorball and racquet sports. He lives in Helsinki with his wife Miriikka, they have three children.

Captain Laakkonen is fluent in English and Swedish and understands French