Post: | Commander |
Body: | the Royal Netherlands Air Force |
Flag: | Onderscheidingsvlag van de Commandant Luchtstrijdkrachten.svg |
Incumbent: | Lieutenant-general André Steur |
Incumbentsince: | 10 June 2016 |
Abbreviation: | C-LSK |
Reports To: | Chief of Defence |
Formation: | 1954 |
First: | Anton Baretta |
Deputy: | Deputy commander |
The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (C-LSK) (Dutch; Flemish: Commandant Luchtstrijdkrachten) is the highest-ranking officer of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. He reports directly to the Chief of the Defence (CDS).
The position of C-LSK was created on 5 September 2005 as part of a reorganization within the Dutch Ministry of Defence in which staff were reduced in size and an entire organizational layer was dropped. Before this reform the commanding officer of the Air Force was called Dutch; Flemish: Bevelhebber der Luchtstrijdkrachten.
The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force is statutorily a lieutenant general and is the head of the Air Force Command (CLSK). He's responsible for preparation, operational command and completion of Air Force operations. In addition, at the request of the CDS, the C-LSK can take joint-command of air operations carried out together with other branches of the Dutch armed forces or foreign militaries, and render support to civilian authorities (foreign and domestic) to maintain the rule of law, combat disasters, provide humanitarian aid, transport patients and firefighting.