Born on June 16, 1945, in the Kirov Region.
1967: graduated from the Perm Higher Military Command and Engineering School and started service in the Strategic Missile Force.
1976: graduated from the Dzerzhinsky Military Academy, Command Faculty.
1976-1989: held different military positions from Deputy Regiment Commander to First Deputy Missile Army Commander.
1991: graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff; appointed Head of the State Research Testing Ground of the Defence Ministry (today - the Plesetsk space port).
Directly controlled over 100 space launches and exercise ICBM firings.
1993-2001: served in the Strategic Missile Force HQ.
1993-1994: Head of Missile and Equipment Operation Directorate of the Strategic Missile Force.
1994-1997: First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Strategic Missile Force.
1997-2001: Chief of Staff of the Strategic Missile Force, First Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Missile Force.
March 28, 2001: appointed Space Troops Commander.
March 12, 2004: appointed Head of Federal Space Agency.
PhD in Technology, professor at the Military Science Academy.
Married, with a son.