General
Onno Eichelsheim
Eichelsheim in 2018
Chief of Defence
Assumed office
15 April 2021
Preceded byLieutenant admiral Rob Bauer
Personal details
Born1966 (age 57–58)
Schiedam, Netherlands
Military service
Allegiance Netherlands
Branch/service Royal Netherlands Air Force
Years of service1986-present
Rank General
CommandsChief of Defence
Vice Chief of Defence
Director MIVD
Director of Operations RNLAF
Helicopter Operations Department, Defence Helicopter Command
301 Squadron
Battles/warsUNPROFOR
SFOR
UNMEE
ISAF

Onno Eichelsheim[1] (born 1966) is a general in the Royal Netherlands Air Force serving as Chief of Defence (Dutch: Commandant der Strijdkrachten) of the Netherlands Armed Forces since 15 April 2021. Prior to his post, he served as the Vice Chief of Defence from 1 July 2019 to 8 March 2021.

Career

Eichelsheim was born in Schiedam,[2] grew up in Bergambacht and attended middle school in Schoonhoven.[2] His military career commenced in August 1986 at the Koninklijke Militaire Academie as a cadet of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), destined for a position as helicopter pilot. In 1990 he graduated at the military academy, and completed the elementary helicopter pilot training to become a pilot at Deelen Air Base's 299 Squadron, which was equipped with MBB Bo 105 helicopters. Consequently, Eichelsheim completed training to become an AH-64 Apache pilot after which he served at 301 Squadron, the first RNLAF squadron to be equipped with the Apache attack helicopters in 1995. He subsequently served as the deputy flight commander of the first Dutch Apache Squadron to train at Fort Hood, Texas, as part of the unit's training programme with the .[3] [4]

In 2000, Eichelsheim was responsible for the planning of the first deployment of an Apache detachment to Djibouti for the United Nations peacekeeping mission UNMEE. Thereafter, he was appointed commander of the Apache Helicopter Group of 11th Airmobile Brigade.[5] In 2005, Eichelsheim took over the command of 301 Squadron, which was amalgamated with two AH-64D Squadrons.[6] From 2009 until August 2011, Eichelsheim was responsible for Operational Policy and Acquisitions in the rank of lieutenant-colonel, where he spearheaded the replacement and the modernization of the CH-47F Chinook helicopters, and the acquisition of the NH90 NFH helicopters.

From 2011 to 2013, Eichelsheim was head of the Helicopter Operations Department of the Defence Helicopter Command.[7]

Eichelsheim was appointed Director of Operations of the RNLAF in June 2014 and was promoted to commodore.[8][9] In this function, he was responsible for the planning and execution of foreign operations.[1]

In early April 2016, Eichelsheim was appointed director of the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (Dutch: Militaire Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst, MIVD) and promoted to major general.[8][9][10] Eichelsheim made several news media appearances in October 2018, when the MIVD publicised a disrupted close-access cyberattack at the headquarters of the OPCW in The Hague by the Russian military intelligence service GRU.[11][12][13][14]

On 1 July 2019, Eichelsheim was succeeded by Major General Jan Swillens as director of the MIVD, and was promoted to lieutenant general to serve as Vice Chief of Defence. He also served as a member of the Cyber Security Council, the Dutch Government's primary and independent advisory body, in charge of cyber security matters in the country.[10] Eichelsheim stepped down as the Vice Chief of Defence on 5 March 2021, in order to prepare for his post as the new Chief of Defence. He remained in his post until 8 March 2021, as he was replaced by Vice Admiral Boudewijn Boots. [4]

On 15 April 2021, Eichelsheim was named as the Chief of Defence of the Netherlands Armed Forces, and promoted to general, replacing Lieutenant Admiral Rob Bauer.[15] [4]

Deployments

In his operational career, Eichelsheim has gone on five peacekeeping deployments: three deployments to Bosnia and two deployments to Afghanistan.[8] Among others, he served as commander of the Apache Detachment of SFOR in Tuzla from 15 June 1999 to 15 September 1999.[16]

In 2004, he served as commander of the Apache Detachment of ISAF as a lieutenant-colonel in the Afghan capital of Kabul.[17][18]

His most recent deployment was in 2006 with TFU-1[19] in Tarin Kowt, in the province of Uruzgan,[8] where he served as the commander of the Air Taskforce (ATF) at Kamp Holland within Multi National Base Tarin Kot. On 26 February 2007, Eichelsheim transferred his command of the ATF to his successor.[20]

Awards

Eichelsheim is entitled to wear the following (military) awards and decorations:

InsigniaName
Commemorative Medal for UN Peacekeeping Operations
Commemorative Medal for Multinational Peacekeeping Operations with digit "2"
Commemorative Medal for Peacekeeping Operations with digit "2"
Officer's Cross with digit "XXX"
Elfstedenkruis
Skill Medal of the Dutch Sports Federation
Commander in the Legion of Honour[21]
United Nations UNPROFOR medal
NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia with digit "2"
NATO Non-Article 5 Medal with digit "2"

Eichelsheim is entitled to wear the following insignia:

InsigniaName
Military Pilot Wings
Combat Badge
Golden Sun of the Higher Defence Command Formation

Personal life

Eichelsheim is married, and father to a daughter and two sons.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Trouw, Veiligheidsdienst zoekt jonge hackers tegen Russische dreiging
  2. 1 2 Vriesendorp & Hoogeland
  3. ↑ Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant, 22 November 1997, p23, Martijn Delaere, "Apaches dwingen respect af", bezocht 14 Aug 2020
  4. 1 2 3 "Onno Eichelsheim, Chief of Defence of the Netherlands". NATO.
  5. ↑ NIMH Beeldbank, Commandant van de Apache helikoptergroep. 11 Ambl Bde (24 Januari 2006)
  6. ↑ NIMH Beeldbank, Lkol Onno Eichelsheim, co van 301 squadron (20-11-2007)
  7. ↑ Dutch Defence Press, kolonel Onno Eichelsheim, hoofd Afdeling Helikopter Operaties van het Defensie Helikopter Commando (DHC)
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Defensie.nl, 17 December 2015, Eichelsheim nieuwe directeur MIVD
  9. 1 2 De Vliegende Hollander, nr 1 2016, Benoeming opperofficieren
  10. 1 2 Defensie, 2 April 2019, Wisselingen in militaire top
  11. ↑ Defensie.nl, 4 oktober 2018, MIVD verstoort Russische cyberoperatie bij de Organisatie voor het Verbod op Chemische Wapens, bezocht 14 Aug 2020
  12. ↑ NRC, 4 oktober 2018, MIVD verijdelde Russische cyberaanval op OPCW in Den Haag, bezocht 14 Aug 2020
  13. ↑ BD, 4 oktober 2018, Openbaar Ministerie onderzoekt actie Russen, bezocht 14 Aug 2020
  14. ↑ FD, 4 oktober 2018, MIVD verhinderde Russische cyberaanval op OPCW, bezocht 14 Aug 2020
  15. ↑ Benoeming nieuwe Commandant der Strijdkrachten, Nieuwsbericht Rijksoverheid d.d. 8 januari 2021
  16. ↑ NIMH, Implementation Force (IFOR) en Stabilization Force (SFOR), bezocht 14 augustus 2020
  17. ↑ NIMH Beeldbank, De Bevelhebber der Luchtstrijdkrachten, luitenant-generaal Dick Berlijn, zwaaide maandag 29 maart 2004 op Vliegbasis Gilze-Rijen het helikopterdetachement uit
  18. ↑ NIMH Beeldbank, Lkol-vlieger L.E. (Onno) Eichelsheim. Det.Cdt ISAF, Kabul, Afghanistan (2004)
  19. ↑ LinkedIn
  20. ↑ Web[oor]log, 27 februari 2007, Hellevuur en roodhuiden
  21. ↑ Generaal Eichelsheim pleit voor verdere samenwerking met Frankrijk. defensie.nl. Retrieved on 22 October 2023.
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