Defense Geospatial Information Agency "Division General Constantin Barozzi"

GEORGE IANNESCU

Colonel (1900-1907) - Executive Director of the Geographic Institute of the Army
Brigadier General (1907-1910) - Senior Director of the Geographic Institute of the Army
Brigadier General (1910-1915) - Senior Director of the Geographic Service of the Army

George Iannescu (real name Gheorghe Enescu) was born on March 8, 1856, in the village of Voloiacu, Mehedinți County.
He graduated from high school in 1877, where he was a classmate of the future political figure Nicolae Titulescu.
He participated with the military school in several combat actions during the War of Independence (1877-1878), for which he was decorated (15 years later, in 1891-1892) with the orders "Steaua României" (Fifth Class) and "Coroana României" (Officer grade). Later, in 1915, after his retirement, he was granted a pension supplement for being a war veteran.
During the War of Independence, he was a student at the Military School and participated in military operations. After graduation, he was appointed platoon commander at the 1st Engineer Regiment.
In 1885, he was appointed assistant professor and instructor at the Special School of Artillery and Engineering, where he taught three subjects: topography, construction, and fortifications.
On January 1, 1889, he became assistant to the commander of the school and professor of military geography.
In 1890, he was promoted to the rank of major and also appointed professor of military geography at the Higher War School.
After a one-year stint (1893-1894) at the 1st Engineer Regiment, he was promoted to colonel. For his exceptional merits in carrying out this mission, he was decorated in 1894 with the “Bene-Merenti” Medal (First Class).
Upon completing his service, he was transferred to the Ministry of War (Central Administration).
Recognizing his inclination toward "terrain research and his talent for drawing maps," he was transferred in 1896 as subdirector at the Geographic Institute of the Army.
For his work in international cooperation related to high-precision leveling with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he was awarded the “Franz Joseph” Order (Commander grade) by Emperor Franz Joseph I during his visit to Romania on September 17, 1896.
In 1900, George Iannescu was promoted to colonel and appointed as the executive director of the Geographic Institute of the Army, with Constantin I. Brătianu serving as the senior director until 1907.
After Brătianu's resignation in 1907, Iannescu was appointed as the senior director of the Geographic Institute of the Army and promoted to brigadier general.
In 1910, the Geographic Institute of the Army transformed into the Geographic Service of the Army, a structure that, in addition to the old Institute, was responsible for the operation of the geographic sections at the level of large units (divisions and brigades).
For his efforts in organizing this service in case of war, General Iannescu was awarded the “Steaua României” (Commander grade) in 1912.
Between 1912-1915, he held the prestigious position of president of the Military Geography Section within the Royal Romanian Society of Geography.
On October 1, 1915, he was placed in reserve.
George Iannescu passed away in 1948 at the age of 92.