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Military leadership
The Chief of Defence (CHOD) is responsible for the implementation of military operations in the Netherlands and abroad. He is assisted by the Defence Staff.
General P.J.M. (Peter) van Uhm began his military career in 1972, at the Royal Military Academy in Breda. After the Academy, he was assigned to 48 Mechanised Infantry Battalion in Den Bosch, where he held various command appointments. In 1983, as company commander in 43 Mechanised Infantry Battalion, he was deployed to Lebanon in the UNIFIL operation.
In the period from 1984 to 1986, he followed the Staff Service and Advanced Military Studies courses at the Netherlands Defence College. In the rank of major, from 1986 to 1991 he was the deputy G3 with the headquarters of 1 Division, and Head of the Army Staff’s Training Policy Office.
In the rank of lieutenant colonel, in 1991 he spent a short period working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Defence liaison officer, during the preparation phase of the ECMM monitoring mission. He was subsequently appointed Head of the Plans Division, as well as Chief Assistant to the Chief of Staff of 1(NL) Corps. In 1994 he assumed command of 11 Airmobile Infantry Battalion, Grenadiers and Rifles Guards.
In April 1995, at the same time as his promotion to the rank of colonel, he was appointed Head of the Personal Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Royal Netherlands Army, followed by appointment as Head of the General Policy Division, Army Staff, in 1996. He was subsequently appointed Head of the Military-Strategic Affairs Division of the Defence Staff.
In the rank of brigadier general, he worked at the Headquarters of the Stabilisation Force in Sarajevo as Assistant Chief of Staff, Joint Military Affairs from November 2000 to May 2001. He subsequently assumed command of 11 Air Manoeuvre Brigade, which became Fully Operational Capable in November 2003, under his leadership.
At the end of 2003, Brigadier General Van Uhm was appointed Deputy Director of Policy and Plans at the Army Staff. He was appointed Director of Policy and Plans in July 2004, with simultaneous promotion to the rank of major general.
On 8 July 2005, Major General Van Uhm assumed command of Operational Command ‘7 December’.
Lieutenant General Van Uhm was appointed Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army on 5 September 2005.
On 17 April 2008, Peter van Uhm was appointed Chief of Defence, with simultaneous promotion to the rank of general.
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