He was born on April 22, 1951. In 1972, he graduated from the Turkish Military Academy and in 1973 from the Infantry School. Between 1973 and 1982, he served in the Airborne Brigade, 7th Border Battalion, Mountain Commando School, and Training Centre. In 1974, Pekin participated in the Cyprus Operation as a platoon commander from the 1st Parachute Battalion of the Airborne Brigade and graduated from the War Academy in 1984. Between 1984 and 1987, Pekin served simultaneously as the Operations Training Branch Manager and Intelligence Branch Manager in the 61st Infantry Division. In the same year, he joined the Land Forces Training Command, where he served until 1991. Between 1991 and 1994, he served as a Land Plan Officer at the Brussels TMR Headquarters, and in 1994 he became the Chief of Staff of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade. In 1995, he left this position and was appointed as the Commander of the 5th Border regiment. Between 1997 and 1998, he served as the Director of the Land forces General Plan Principles Defense Research Branch. He was promoted to brigadier general on August 30, 1998, and served as the Head of the Land Forces Plan, Operations and Organization Department between 1998 and 2000, and as the Commander of the 66th Armored Brigade between 2000 and 2002.
He was promoted to major general on August 30, 2002, and served as the Chief of Land Forces Personnel between 2002 and 2005, and as the Deputy Commander of the 4th Corps and Commander of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Division between 2005 and 2006. He was promoted to lieutenant general on August 30, 2006. Between 2006 and 2007, he served as the Commander of the 8th Corps. In August 2007, he was appointed as the Chief of the Intelligence Department of the General Staff. İsmail Hakkı Pekin, who speaks English, French, and Arabic, was awarded the Cyprus Peace Operation Bronze Medal of Merit. He retired in 2012.
In 2017, he continues his life as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at GMKA DEFENSE INDUSTRY IMPORT EXPORT INC. and also as the Founder, Board of Trustees and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of GMKA FOUNDATION established on October 29, 2023.