Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force

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Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force
Commandant Lucht-en Ruimtestrijdkrachten (Dutch)
Onderscheidingsvlag van de Commandant Luchtstrijdkrachten.svg
Luitenant-Generaal Steur.jpg
Incumbent
Lieutenant-general André Steur
since 14 April 2023
Flag of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.svg  Royal Netherlands Air Force
AbbreviationC-LRS
Reports to Chief of Defence
Formation1954
First holder Anton Baretta
DeputyDeputy commander
Website Official website

The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (C-LRS) (Dutch : Commandant Lucht-en Ruimtestrijdkrachten) is the highest-ranking officer of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. He reports directly to the Chief of the Defence (CDS).

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Before being renamed to C-LRS in Dutch on 1 June 2025, the position of C-LSK (Commandant Luchtstrijdkrachten) was head of the air force. The position of C-LSK had been in use since 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 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 (CLRS). He's responsible for preparation, operational command and completion of Air Force operations. In addition, at the request of the CDS, the C-LRS 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.

Commanders of the Royal Netherlands Air Force

1954–2005
2005–present

See also

References