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The Chief of Defence (Dutch: Chef Defensie; French: Chef de la Défense, abbreviated as CHOD), is the professional head and commander of the Belgian Armed Forces. He is the highest official within the Ministry of Defence and the Chief of the Defence Staff. He reports directly to the Minister of Defence and is responsible for advising the Minister, for the implementation of defence policy and for the administration of the department. The current Chief of Defence is General Frederik Vansina, since July 2024.
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2021) |
| Chief of Defence | |
|---|---|
| Chef Defensie (Dutch) Chef de la Défense (French) | |
since 4 July 2024 | |
| Ministry of Defence | |
| Type | Chief of Defence |
| Member of | Belgian Armed Forces |
| Reports to | Minister of Defence |
| Formation | 28 February 1958 |
| First holder | Lieutenant-General Jacques de Clarcq |
| No. | Portrait | Chief of Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lieutenant General Jacques de Clarcq | 28 February 1958 | 30 November 1959 | 1 year, 275 days |  Belgian Land Component | – | |
| 2 | Lieutenant General Baron Charles Paul de Cumont (1902–1990) | 9 December 1959 | 30 June 1963 | 3 years, 203 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
| 3 | Lieutenant General G. Wagner | 1 July 1963 | 31 March 1965 | 1 year, 273 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
| 4 | Lieutenant General V. Dessart | 1 April 1965 | 31 March 1968 | 2 years, 365 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
| 5 | Lieutenant General Baron Georges Vivario (1910–1990) | 1 April 1968 | 14 March 1972 | 3 years, 348 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
| 6 | Lieutenant General Armand Crekillie (1922–2006) | 15 March 1972 | 31 October 1979 | 7 years, 230 days |  Belgian Air Component | – | |
| 7 | Lieutenant General Willy Gontier | 1 November 1979 | 30 September 1982 | 2 years, 334 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
| 8 | Lieutenant General Baron Maurice Gysemberg (1927–2001) | 1 October 1982 | 21 July 1988 | 5 years, 265 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
| 9 | Lieutenant General José Charlier (born 1934) | 22 July 1988 | 30 September 1995 | 7 years, 71 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
| 10 | Admiral Willy Herteleer (born 1941) | 1 November 1995 | 31 December 2002 | 7 years, 91 days |  Belgian Navy | – | |
| 11 | General August Van Daele (1944–2017) | 1 January 2003 | 1 April 2009 | 6 years, 90 days | Belgian Air Component | – | |
| 12 | General Charles-Henri Delcour (born 1948) | 2 April 2009 | 29 March 2012 | 2 years, 363 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
| 13 | General Gerard Van Caelenberge (born 1952) | 13 July 2012 | 13 July 2016 | 4 years, 0 days | Belgian Air Component | – | |
| 14 | General Marc Compernol (born 1957) | 13 July 2016 | 10 July 2020 | 3 years, 363 days | Belgian Land Component | – | |
| 15 | Admiral Michel Hofman (born 1961) | 10 July 2020 | 4 July 2024 | 3 years, 360 days | Belgian Navy | [1] | |
| 16 | General Frederik Vansina (born 1964) | 4 July 2024 | Incumbent | 140 days | Belgian Air Component | [1] |
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