Air Commodore Jeroen Van Bruchem

Commander, Defence Helicopter Command Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force

Air Commodore Jeroen van Bruchem is currently head of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force's (RNLASF) National Air & Space Operations Center (NASOC). Together with his team, he prepares units for deployment, and coordinates and supports the day-today readiness of the RNLASF. Within the RNLASF, the NASOC is the linchpin for air command and control, contributing cyber units, electronic warfare capabilities and intelligence operations. In addition, Jeroen acts as the crisis manager in cross-Service crises. He is also the senior specialist among RNLASF helicopter pilots and acts as a mentor for a number of young colleagues. He entered into service in 1995 and, after completing his studies at the Royal Military Academy, received his wings in Alabama in 2000. He continued pilot training in Texas on the Apache AH-64D attack helicopter, after which he held various roles in 302 and 301 squadrons from 2001. After his first two deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, in 2005 Jeroen was trained as a weapons instructor. In that role, he contributed to the tactical development of Apache pilots and after his third deployment compiled the lessons learned from the 301 Squadron's first deployment of weapons in Uruzgan. The years from 2006 to 2010 were marked by consecutive missions to Afghanistan. During his first staff post at the Directorate of Plans in The Hague, in 2010 he was deployed for an eighth time as the commander of the Apache detachment in Tarin Kowt. Upon his return, he continued in his previous role as a staff officer, focusing on a large cost-cutting operation in which Jeroen's tasks included downsizing the knowledge centres. In 2011, Jeroen was posted to Fort Hood, Texas, as head of operations of 302 Squadron, where he worked closely together with Dutch and US army units. In those years, Jeroen's team was also responsible for establishing, reorganising and accrediting this joint unit, which has since been providing high-quality and indispensable air assault training for many years. After returning to the Netherlands, Jeroen attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the Netherlands Defence College in Breda from mid-2015 to mid-2016. He was then promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and posted as head of operations (A3) to Defence Helicopter Command at Gilze-Rijen Air Base