Colonel Roeland Van Thienen

F-35A Capability Director Belgian Air Force

In 1998, Colonel Van Thienen entered the Royal Military Academy as part of the 153rd Promotion (Polytechnics). He was later selected for ENJJPT (Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training) and assigned to class 05-03 at Sheppard AFB, Texas, USA. After graduation, he completed fighter lead-in training on Alpha Jet at Beauvechain AB (Belgium) and Cazaux AB (France). In 2006, he finished his F-16 operational conversion and joined 349 Fighter Squadron at Kleine Brogel AB, Belgium. Within 349 (F) Squadron, Colonel Van Thienen became combat-ready and advanced through the roles of wingman, element leader, flight leader, mission commander, and tactical instructor pilot. Specializing in Electronic Warfare, he participated in major national and NATO air exercises. He completed four tours in Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of ISAF and took part in Operation Odyssey Dawn over Libya in 2011. He also deployed as Detachment Commander to Al Azraq, Jordan (Operation Inherent Resolve, Iraq and Syria) and to Siauliai AB, Lithuania in support of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission. In 2011, he attended the Higher Staff Course at the Royal Military Academy, Brussels. The following year, he was selected as an Air Force Test Pilot and graduated from EPNER (Istres AB, France), flying over 20 different aircraft types ranging from fast jets to multi-engine transport aircraft. For two years, he served as a fixed-wing test pilot before joining the four-man F-16 replacement team. There, he co-authored the Request for Government Proposal and helped negotiate the Best and Final Offers of competing aircraft, covering political-military, operational, financial, and economic aspects. After completing a three-year tour as a squadron commander, Colonel Van Thienen attended the Advanced Staff Course. In 2022, he became Head of the Air Integrated Capability Management Office within the Strategic Department of the Belgian Joint Staff, coordinating the implementation of funded air capabilities. In the summer of 2024, he assumed his current role as Belgium’s F-35 Capability Director