I joined the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) in 1975 and completed my training as a Naval engineering officer in 1979. Graduation was followed by a one year scientific study in metallurgy, at the Technical University of Delft.After three operational assignments (destroyers, Leander- & S-class frigate, I was transferred in 1985 to the maintenance group in Den Helder, where I was appointed to set up a 24/7 engineering support team. Another two operational assignments (Supply Ship and Hydrographical Survey vessel) as a chief engineering officer followed. In1990 I was appointed assistant director of the Naval engineering school in Amsterdam. This appointment was followed by another two operational assignments as a chief engineering officer. In 1997 I was promoted LTCDR and was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Naval Academy to be a coach for engineering officers. In 1998 I attended the Staff Course. This 9 month course was followed by an assignment as deputy head R&D. After three years I was transferred to the policy and planning Department in the Directorate of Naval Personnel being responsible for the planning of recruitment, retention and implementation of policy in a broad sense.Eventually, in 2005, I was transferred to Den Helder to implement People Soft and to reorganise the personnel organization. In December 2007 I was promoted and transferred to the Defence R&D organization as Deputy Director for “Knowledge Transfer”.I retired from the Roal Netherlands Navy february 1st 2012.Specialties: 1) Ships Propulsion (Steam, diesel, diesel electric, gasturbines) Platform systems and damage control & firefighting2) P&O: policy development, recruiting, management development3) Teaching: thermodynamics, ethics4) Management of school organization (RNN Engineering