Great visit to DC from my NLD Air Chief this week. Good talks with SAFIA, with the Vice Chief of Space Operations at the Pentagon and a productive 1 on 1 dinner with CSAF General Brown. Great partnership with the USAF, but we can and must do even better in the future.

Today I witnessed the graduation of our newest Netherlands Air Force pilots at Sheppard AFB. Lars, Raaf and Ruben congrats for achieving a big milestone in your career and welcome to the club!

Great to be part of the 75th birthday celebration of the US Air Force, together with Air Chiefs and representatives of 49 countries. Airpower accellerated tremendously over these ‘just’ 75 years. Happy birthday USAF!

Good meetings by my Air Chief LtGen Luyt with the new PEO F-35 JPO LtGen Schmidt, with fellow Air Chiefs, the Mitchell Institute, Lockheed Martin and Boeing. International cooperation and comradeship is in the DNA of our Air Forces.

The #USAF doesn’t fight alone, nor do we deter alone. Throughout our history, we have succeeded thanks to relationships with #AlliesandPartners. As the world grows more complicated & complex, these relationships will continue to be our most significant strategic asset. #IACC

This week I visited our two Dutch students at the US Air University in Montgomery, Vincent and Marije. We shared experiences about studying in a US and international setting. All the more important in this volatile geopolitical environment.

Yesterday I had the honor to graduate the 3 newest helicopter pilots of the Netherlands Air Force at FtRucker, Alabama. We trained hundreds of pilots there for over 40 years. Matthijs, Marc and Sander, congrats and many happy landings! 🚁

Today in the Silent Wing (Glider) Museum in Lubbock had the opportunity to present the Orange Lanyard for two WWII veterans who participated as glider pilots during Market Garden. Major Frank Brandon (102 years) and 1LT Fred Lunde (100 years). They deserve our eternal gratitude!

Finally I was able to visit Dyess AFB where our NLD Air Force has Maj. Bernie vd Berg as a C-130 exchange pilot flying and acting as Chief Staneval. I presented his wife Marieke a nice bottle of wine on behalf of our Air Chief LtGen Luyt for her work in the ‘CLSK Partner Program’

Good discussions during the USA-NLD Defense Industry Days today and yesterday at the NLD Embassy in DC on strengthening cooperation. 150 attendees from various US and NLD companies.

Vandaag met C-LSK nog een dagje naar Luke. Gaat goed daar met onze F-35 opleidingen. De USAF is blij met ons daar en wij zijn blij dat we er kunnen trainen! 👍

Today we celebrate the rollout of the first Dutch #Apache AH-64E from the Boeing factory. A milestone! The new “E” gives the Netherlands armed forces the best and most modern attack helicopter for years to come.

Today LtGen Luyt visited the Netherlands 302SQ at FtHood and the visiting FAMEC course personnel. The Netherlands Air Force and Air Mobile Brigade are happy with all the training and exercise that can be done as part of the 166AVN Brigade. We’re in for the long run here! 👍

Excellent days here at the US Air Force Research Lab. with our Deputy Commander MajGen Van Ingen and senior representatives from TNO and NLR, enhancing mutual cooperation in the R&D area with the USAF. R&D is where it all starts for a 6th Gen Air Force.

On invitation by AFROTC DET330 in Maryland, my Norwegian colleague and I spoke with 190 USAF Cadets on our experiences as foreign Allies to the US. A great opportunity for better mutual understanding to create stronger cooperation. We’re doing very well,but we can do even better!

Great to be able to witness DeeAnna Burt get pinned on her *** by CSO General Saltzman (both SAASS grads) as the Chief Operations Officer of the USSF. Congrats!

Promotion LtGen DeeAnna Burt

Begin 2023 gaan we met 8 van onze F-35s van Vliegbasis Leeuwarden naar Polen 🇵🇱 Daar beschermen we het NAVO luchtruim. #ACC #defensie defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws…

Great to have 3 SAASS mates as generals at my farewell reception in DC. Carin and I had the best 4,5 years of our lives here, trying to improve the already excellent relationship between our Air Forces. Leaving with sadness, but also with a big smile! 😎

Yesterday I handed over my job as the Netherlands Air & Space Attache in The USA to Colonel Ben Kamstra. I know Ben and Colinda will do great in further strengthening the relationship between the NLD Air Force and the USAF & USSF