Birhanu was promoted to Field Marshal in January 2022. He is the first military officer in Ethiopia to have been promoted to this rank. Birhanu was promoted to full General in February 2018 and appointed as deputy Chief of Staff (along with ex-Seare Mekonen and Adem Mohamed). Prior to his current appointment, he was the Deputy chief of staff & head of military operations division from June 2018- November 2020. Between 2018 and 2016, he has held various positions including the head of the Army Logistics Department, and the Head of Peacekeeping Mission center of ENDF. From 2014 to 2016 he was appointed by the UN Secretary General as the Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). He was also the Commander of the Western Command from 2010 -2014 and Deputy Commander of the Central Command from 2006 until 2009.