Evangelos Apostolakis was born in Rethymno, Crete on 14th of May 1957. He joined the Hellenic Naval Academy in 1976, graduated and was commissioned as Ensign of the Hellenic Navy in July 1980. He has completed the Underwater Demolitions Team School of the Hellenic Navy, and he is a graduate of the Advanced Mine Warfare School (Belgium) and the Amphibious Warfare School (U.S.A.) as well as the Hellenic Naval War College. 

As a junior ocer, his sea duty assignments, include various tours. He served mainly on Destroyers and Amphibious ships as Communications, Navigations and Operations Ocer. 

He served as the Commanding Ocer of MSC HS ATALANTI, MSC HS KISSA and FFGH HS NAVARINON. 

His shore and sta assignments as senior Ocer include service as Deputy Commander of Underwater Demolition Command, Commander of Underwater Demolition Command, Adjutant of the Minister of National Defence, Director of Administration of Souda Naval Base, Chief of Sta of Senior Naval Command Aegean, and Deputy Chief of Sta (DCOS) STRIKEFORNATO Naples IT. 

As o Commodore he assumed duties of Director of HNGS B’ Branch. 

As o Rear Admiral he was assigned Deputy Chief of Fleet (H.R) and Chief of Sta of the HNDGS. 

As a Vice Admiral he served as Deputy Chief of HNDGS. 

On March 7th, 2013, upon decision of the Governmental Council for Foreign Aairs and Defence, he assumed the duties of Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Sta. 

In 2015 he assumed the duties of Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Sta and was promoted to Admiral. 

On January 14th, 2019, he was retired, awarded the title of Honorable Chief of Defence, and assumed the duties of Minister of National Defence. 

Since June 2023, he has been serving as a Member of the Hellenic Parliament (State-wide MP). 

Since November 2024, he is an Independent Member of Parliament and continues to serve as a member of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Aairs and the Special Standing Committee on Armament Programs and Contracts of the Hellenic Parliament. 

He has been awarded with all the medals, decorations and commendations stipulated for an ocer of his rank and seniority. 

He is married and has two children.