General of the Army Nikolai Makarov (born on 7 October 1949 in Glebovo, Ryazan Oblast, Russia) is the current Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, First Deputy Minister of Defence. Makarov also has two sons, Seth and Ivan.

He graduated from Moscow Combined Arms Command School and assumed command over a platoon (later, company and battalion) with the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany.

In 1979, he earned a degree at Frunze Military Academy and reported to the then Baikal Military District as deputy regiment commander, deputy division commander, motorized rifle division commander.