Vice Admiral Yalçın Payal was promoted to rank of Vice Admiral on 30 August 2024. As of 11 August 2024, he has been serving as the Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces.  

Vice Admiral Payal received his Master’s of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School/USA and then he served as the Head of Weapons and Electronic Systems Assessment Center of Yıldızlar Surface Training Center (1996-2000). After graduating from the Naval War College in 2002, he served as Naval Planning Officer of Turkish General Staff CIS Department (2002-2003) and as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of the frigate TCG MUAVENET (2003-2007).  

Vice Admiral Payal was Staff Officer of Turkish General Staff Plans and Policy Department between 2007-2009 and Mediterranean and Near Middle East Advisor for POLAD Office at JFC HQ Naples/Italy between 2009-2012. He assumed the post of Commodore of the 2nd Fast Patrol Boat Division (2012-2013) and Commodore of 3rd Destroyer Division (2013-2014). He became Chief of Operations, Turkish Fleet Command (2014-2015), and was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral (LH) in 2015. Following the promotion, Payal served as Chief Of Staff Turkish Fleet Command (2015-2017), as the Commander of Turkish Amphibious Task Group Command (2017-2018), as the Commander of Turkish Naval Academy (2018-2019) and as the Commander of Naval Training and Education (2019-2021). 

Vice Admiral Payal was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral (UH) in 2021 and served as Commander of NATO High Readiness Turkish Maritime Forces Command and Commander of Surface Action Group (2021-2022) and Southern Sea Area Commander (2022-2024).