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Onno Eichelsheim

Chief of Defence of the Netherlands

Onno Eichelsheim is a General in the Royal Netherlands Air Force and currently serving as Chief of Defence of the Netherlands Armed Forces since 2021. Previously, General Eichelsheim served as the Director of the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (2016-19), the Director of Operations of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (2014-16), and the Head of the Helicopter Operations Department of the Defence Helicopter Command (2011-13). General Eichelsheim was responsible for planning the first deployment of an Apache detachment to Djibouti for the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission and was appointed the Commander of the Apache Helicopter Group of the 11th Airmobile Brigade. In 1990, General Eichelsheim was awarded his Helicopter Pilot Wings and served in a variety of operational positions as a helicopter pilot with the 299 Squadron at Deelen Air Base until 1996. General Eichelsheim has been awarded numerous military awards and decorations.  
Updated: March 18, 2025