The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (C-LSK) (Dutch: Commandant Luchtstrijdkrachten) is the highest-ranking officer of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. He reports directly to the Chief of the Defence (CDS).
| Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Commandant Luchtstrijdkrachten (Dutch) | |
 | |
 Royal Netherlands Air Force | |
| Abbreviation | C-LSK |
| Reports to | Chief of Defence |
| Formation | 1954 |
| First holder | Anton Baretta |
| Deputy | Deputy commander |
| Website | Official website |
The position of C-LSK was created on 5 September 2005 as part of a reorganization within the Dutch Ministry of Defence in which staff were reduced in size and an entire organizational layer was dropped. Before this reform the commanding officer of the Air Force was called Bevelhebber der Luchtstrijdkrachten.
The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force is statutorily a lieutenant general and is the head of the Air Force Command (CLSK). He's responsible for preparation, operational command and completion of Air Force operations. In addition, at the request of the CDS, the C-LSK can take joint-command of air operations carried out together with other branches of the Dutch armed forces or foreign militaries, and render support to civilian authorities (foreign and domestic) to maintain the rule of law, combat disasters, provide humanitarian aid, transport patients and firefighting.
Commanders of the Royal Netherlands Air Force edit
- 1954–2005
- 1954–1956 Anton Baretta
- 1956–1961 Heije Schaper
- 1961–1965 Hein Zielstra
- 1965–1970 Bertie Wolff
- 1970–1973 Flip van der Wolf
- 1973–1976 Hans Knoop
- 1976–1981 Rien Geschiere
- 1981–1985 Cas Baas
- 1985–1989 Fred de Jong
- 1989–1992 Willy Cornelis Louwerse
- 1992–1995 Heinz Manderfeld
- 1995–2000 Ben Droste
- 2000–2004 Dick Berlijn
- 2004–2005 Dirk Starink
- 2005–present
- Lieutenant-General Hans de Jong (5 September 2005 – 29 May 2008)
- Lieutenant-General Jac Jansen (29 May 2008 – 9 March 2012)
- Lieutenant-General Sander Schnitger (9 March 2012 – 10 June 2016)
- Lieutenant-General Dennis Luyt (10 June 2016 – 14 April 2023)
- Lieutenant-General André Steur (14 April 2023 – Present)
See also edit
References edit
External links edit
- Commandant Luchtstrijdkrachten from the website of the Dutch Ministry of Defence.