Director of the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) Jan Swillens will be commander of the armed forces from March 8, the Ministry of Defense announced on Monday.
The 56-year-old major general has been boss of the MIVD since 2019. Before that, from the start of his career in 1985, he held various positions in, among others, the armored infantry, air mobile brigade and the Commando Troops Corps.
Swillens was the top boss of the latter special unit from 2012, a few years later he was given command of 43 Mechanized Brigade in Havelte.
Swillens succeeds General Martin Wijnen, who leaves Defense to become Director General of Rijkswaterstaat at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management from 1 January.