Born 21 May, 1955 in Chadan, Republic of Tuva. 

Graduated from the Krasnoyarsk Polytechnic Institute (1977) with a degree in Construction Engineering. PhD (Economics).

Army General, Hero of the Russian Federation.

1972-1977: student at the Krasnoyarsk Polytechnic Institute.

1977-1978: foreman at the Promkhimstroy Construction Trust, Krasnoyarsk.

1978-1979: foreman, section head at the Tuvinstroy Construction Trust, Kyzyl.

1979-1984: construction supervisor, chief engineer, director of the Achinskaluminystroy Construction Trust, Achinsk.

1979-1984: construction supervisor, chief engineer, director of the Achinskaluminystroy Construction Trust, Achinsk.

1984-1985: Deputy Head of the Sayanaluminystroy Construction Trust, Sayanogorsk.

1985-1986: Head of the Sayantyazhstroy Trust, Abakan.

1986-1988: Head of the Abakanvagonstroy railway car manufacturing facility, Abakan.

1988-1989: Second secretary of the Abakan City Communist Party Committee, Abakan.

1989-1990: Inspector at the Krasnoyarsk Territory Communist Party Committee, Krasnoyarsk.

1990-1991: Deputy Chairman of the RSFSR State Committee for Architecture and Construction, Moscow.

1991: Chairman of the Russian Rescue Corps, Moscow.

1991-1994: Chairman of the RSFSR State Committee for Emergencies, Moscow.

1994-2012: Minister of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief (10 January, 2000 - 7 May, 2000: Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief).  

Appointed Governor of the Moscow Region in 2012.

6 November, 2012: appointed Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation.

State awards: Commendations from the President (1993 and 1999), Certificate of Merit from the Government (2000), Order of Service to the Fatherland, 3rd Class, (2005), and Commendation from the Government (2005), et al.

Merited Rescuer of the Russian Federation (2005).