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The Chief of Defence (Dutch: Chef Defensie; French: Chef de la Défense, abbreviated as CHOD), is the professional head and commander of the Belgian Armed Forces. He is the highest official within the Ministry of Defence and the Chief of the Defence Staff. He reports directly to the Minister of Defence and is responsible for advising the Minister, for the implementation of defence policy and for the administration of the department. The current Chief of Defence is General Frederik Vansina, since July 2024.
Chief of Defence | |
---|---|
Chef Defensie (Dutch) Chef de la Défense (French) | |
since 4 July 2024 | |
Ministry of Defence | |
Type | Chief of Defence |
Member of | Belgian Armed Forces |
Reports to | Minister of Defence |
Formation | 28 February 1958 |
First holder | Lieutenant-General Jacques de Clarcq |
Chiefs of Staff (1958−present)
editNo. | Portrait | Chief of Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lieutenant General Jacques de Clarcq | 28 February 1958 | 30 November 1959 | 1 year, 275 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
2 | Baron Charles Paul de Cumont (1902–1990) | Lieutenant General9 December 1959 | 30 June 1963 | 3 years, 203 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
3 | G. Wagner | Lieutenant General1 July 1963 | 31 March 1965 | 1 year, 273 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
4 | V. Dessart | Lieutenant General1 April 1965 | 31 March 1968 | 2 years, 365 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
5 | Baron Georges Vivario (1910–1990) | Lieutenant General1 April 1968 | 14 March 1972 | 3 years, 348 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
6 | Armand Crekillie (1922–2006) | Lieutenant General15 March 1972 | 31 October 1979 | 7 years, 230 days | Belgian Air Component | – | |
7 | Willy Gontier | Lieutenant General1 November 1979 | 30 September 1982 | 2 years, 334 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
8 | Baron Maurice Gysemberg (1927–2001) | Lieutenant General1 October 1982 | 21 July 1988 | 5 years, 265 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
9 | José Charlier (born 1934) | Lieutenant General22 July 1988 | 30 September 1995 | 7 years, 71 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
10 | Admiral Willy Herteleer (born 1941) | 1 November 1995 | 31 December 2002 | 7 years, 91 days | Belgian Navy | – | |
11 | General August Van Daele (1944–2017) | 1 January 2003 | 1 April 2009 | 6 years, 90 days | Belgian Air Component | – | |
12 | Charles-Henri Delcour (born 1948) | General2 April 2009 | 29 March 2012 | 2 years, 363 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
13 | Gerard Van Caelenberge (born 1952) | General13 July 2012 | 13 July 2016 | 4 years, 0 days | Belgian Air Component | – | |
14 | Marc Compernol (born 1957) | General13 July 2016 | 10 July 2020 | 3 years, 363 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
15 | Michel Hofman (born 1961) | Admiral10 July 2020 | 4 July 2024 | 3 years, 360 days | Belgian Navy | [1] | |
16 | Frederik Vansina (born 1964) | General4 July 2024 | Incumbent | 57 days | Belgian Air Component | [1] |
References
edit- ^ a b "Admiral Michel Hofman". nato.int. Retrieved 23 February 2021.