Defense Geospatial Information Agency "Division General Constantin Barozzi"

MIHAIL POPESCU

General-Major - 1948-1949 - Director of the Military Geographic Institute

General-Major - 1950-15.01.1951 - Head of the Military Topographic Enterprise

General-Major - 15.01.1951-01.03.1951 - Head of the Military Topographic Directorate

Mihail Popescu was born on February 24, 1896, in the village of Cornesti, Dâmbovița County. He completed five primary school classes and seven classes of high school in the real section.

He attended the Artillery, Engineering, and Navy School, graduating on October 1, 1916, and was initially assigned to the 3rd Light Howitzer Regiment.

On May 9, 1917, he was transferred to the 23rd Artillery Regiment as section chief adjutant and later as adjutant of the 13th Artillery Brigade.

In the role of "section commander and advanced observer" of the 23rd Artillery Regiment, Mihail Popescu participated in the battles at Namoloasa.

On July 25, 1917, he participated in the battles at Mărășești, fulfilling the role of "advanced observer with infantry" until September 1, 1917, when the 23rd Artillery Regiment was placed in reserve near the city of Tecuci.

In November and December 1917, he transferred within Battalion 4 of the 23rd Artillery Regiment to the Artillery Shooting School. In January 1918, he was on the front in southern Bessarabia. For his acts of bravery, he was decorated with the "Crown of Romania" class II with the ribbon of Military Virtue, the "Star of Romania" class II, and the "Commemorative War Cross 1916-1918" and "Victory of the Allies" medals.

On August 1, 1919, he was detached to the Army Geographic Service and permanently transferred there on April 1, 1920. Over time, Mihail Popescu became one of the brightest officers of the Army Geographic Service, progressively advancing through the military hierarchy to the highest ranks.

Between July 1 and December 20, 1932, he attended the preparatory course for senior officers in Făgăraș and Bucharest.

During the bombings of 1944, he directly participated in moving the assets of the Military Geographic Institute to the Berevoiesti-Muscel area.

He was promoted to the rank of Major General in 1948 and appointed head of the Military Geographic Institute, a position he held until 1950.

In 1950, under General Mihail Popescu's leadership, the Military Geographic Institute transformed into the Military Topographic Enterprise.

After just one year, on January 15, 1951, the Military Topographic Enterprise became the Military Topographic Directorate, which remains its name to this day.

Mihail Popescu retired on March 1, 1951, at the age of 55.

He passed away in 1961, at the age of 65.