Lieutenant General Jan Broeks took over the position of Director General of the NATO International Military Staff (DGIMS) from outgoing Director General, Air Marshal Sir Christopher Harper today (27 July 2016). Lieutenant General Broeks is a three star General in the Royal Netherlands Army who was elected by the NATO Chiefs of Defence in September 2015 and will serve a term of three years. 

During his three year tenure as Director General, Air Marshal Harper oversaw, inter alia, the implementation of the Readiness Action Plan, the planning of the Aegean Mission, completion of the International Military Staff review, the end of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and start of the RESOLUTE SUPPORT Mission.

Speaking during a Town Hall which brought together all the International Military Staff personnel, military and civilian, Air Marshal Harper thanked the staff for all their hard work and support. “In a time with a multitude of threats at our borders from both state and non-state actors and an unpredictable security environment, I am proud that the International Military Staff has always met its requirements and provided clear assessments and policy reports to support the Military Committee’s work”, said Air Marshal Harper.

Lieutenant General Broeks in his Welcome address remarked how it was “an honour to be elected as the next DGIMS and it is a privilege lead the remarkable group of men and women who make up the International Military Staff”. The new DGIMS also emphasized how the IMS’s primary responsibility was to enable the Military Committee in their work and proceedings and that was more important than ever following the decisions taken at the successful Summit in Warsaw.

The position of Director General of the International Military Staff, made a position in 1965, has been held by 17 officers from: the United Kingdom (four times), the Netherlands (three times), Germany and Italy (twice), Belgium, Denmark, Canada, Spain, Greece, Norway (once).

The IMS is the executive body of the NATO Military Committee which is NATO’s senior military authority. The IMS prepares assessments and studies on NATO military issues identifying areas of strategic and operational interest and most importantly, proposes courses of action. The IMS enables the National Military Representatives to deal with military issues rapidly and effectively ensuring that the Military Committee provides the North Atlantic Council consensus based advice on all military aspects of policy, operations, and transformation within the Alliance.