The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force (C-LRS) (Dutch: Commandant Lucht-en Ruimtestrijdkrachten) is the highest-ranking officer of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force. He reports directly to the Chief of the Defence (CDS).
| Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force | |
|---|---|
| Commandant Lucht-en Ruimtestrijdkrachten (Dutch) | |
Incumbent since 14 April 2023Lieutenant-general André Steur | |
| Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force | |
| Abbreviation | C-LRS |
| Reports to | Chief of Defence |
| Formation | 1954 |
| First holder | Anton Baretta |
| Deputy | Deputy commander |
| Website | Official website |
Before being renamed to C-LRS in Dutch on 1 June 2025 due to the addition of a space force to the air force, the position of C-LSK (Commandant Luchtstrijdkrachten) was head of the air force. The position of C-LSK had been in use since 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.[citation needed]
The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force is statutorily a lieutenant general and is the head of the Air and Space Force Command (CLRS).[citation needed] They are responsible for preparation, operational command and completion of Air and Space Force operations. In addition, at the request of the CDS, the C-LRS 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.
List of officeholders
- 1954–2005 (Bevelhebber der Luchtstrijdkrachten)
- 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
| No. | Portrait | Name (lifespan) | Term of office | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| Commander of the Air Force (Dutch: Commandant Luchtstrijdkrachten) | ||||||
| 1 | Lieutenant-General Hans de Jong | 5 September 2005 | 29 May 2008 | 2 years, 267 days | ||
| 2 | Lieutenant-General Jac Jansen (born 1956) | 29 May 2008 | 9 March 2012 | 3 years, 285 days | ||
| 3 | Lieutenant-General Sander Schnitger (1958–2020) | 9 March 2012 | 10 June 2016 | 4 years, 93 days | ||
| 4 | Lieutenant-General Dennis Luyt (born 1963) | 10 June 2016 | 14 April 2023 | 6 years, 308 days | ||
| 5 | Lieutenant-General André Steur (born 1970) | 14 April 2023 | 1 July 2025 | 2 years, 78 days | ||
| Commander of the Air and Space Force (Dutch: Commandant Lucht-en Ruimtestrijdkrachten) | ||||||
| 1 | Lieutenant-General André Steur (born 1970) | 1 July 2025 | Incumbent | 169 days | ||
See also
- Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army
- Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy
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