Air Commodore Robert Adang

Commander Dutch Defence Helicopter Command

Air Commodore Robert Adang (1965) is the commander of Defence Helicopter Command, comprising all helicopters of the Netherlands armed forces.

He started his military career at the Royal Military Academy in Breda, The Netherlands, in 1983. After graduating from the academy he attended helicopter flight school and received his wings in 1988. He was subsequently assigned to 300 Sqn at Deelen Air Base, flying the Alouette III helicopter. In 1989 he transferred to 299 Squadron at the same air base to fly the BO-105CB helicopter, at which he qualified as an instructor pilot in 1991.

After several operational positions, including that of flight commander, he was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Air Force Headquarters in The Hague late 1996 as part of the Apache project team, participating in the introduction of the AH-64D Apache attack helicopter. In 1997 he transitioned to the Apache himself.

Robert Adang was assigned to 301 Squadron at Gilze-Rijen Air Base in 1999 as Operations Officer. After completion of the Advanced Staff Course he returned to 301 as Squadron Commander, responsible for certification of the unit as part of the 11th Air Maneuver Brigade in 2003.

In 2004 he was again transferred to the Air Force Headquarters, as head of the Plans Section, followed by an assignment to the Defence Staff in The Hague as Head of Helicopter Requirements in 2007.

In 2010 Robert Adang was promoted to Colonel and transferred to the Integrated Plans branch at the Defence Staff. From 2011 to late 2012 he held the post of Head of the Plans Division, responsible for the coordination and execution of the integrated defence planning process.

In December 2012 he was assigned to the Staff of the Royal Netherlands Air Force Command as head of the Policy and Plans Branch. In this capacity he was responsible for a wide range of activities, including international military cooperation and integrated plans.

In May 2016 Robert Adang was promoted to Air Commodore and assigned to the European Air Group at High Wycombe, UK, for a two-year tenure as Deputy Director.

On 5 September 2018, Air Commodore Robert Adang assumed command of the Defence Helicopter Command of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. His main focus is on improving operational readiness and on preparing the DHC for future combat operations in the information age.

Adang was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina as Apache detachment commander in 1999, to Kandahar, Afghanistan, as commander of a CH-47 Chinook unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006 and to Uruzgan, Afghanistan, as commander of the Apache detachment in support of ISAF in 2008.

Robert is married and has a daughter and a son.