Dick Berlijn

Dick Lodewijk Berlijn
Berlijn in 2005
Chief of Defence
In office
5 June 2004 – 17 April 2008
Preceded byLieutenant admiral Luuk Kroon
Succeeded byGeneral Peter van Uhm
Personal details
Born (1950-03-18) March 18, 1950 (age 74)
Amsterdam
AwardsLegion of Merit, NATO Medal, Order of Orange-Nassau, Légion d´honneur
Nickname"Quicky"[1]
Military service
Allegiance Netherlands
Branch/service Royal Netherlands Air Force
Years of service1969–2008
Rank General
CommandsChief of the Netherlands Defence Staff
Battles/wars

General Dick Lodewijk Berlijn (born March 18, 1950, in Amsterdam) is a retired Royal Netherlands Air Force four-star general, who served as Chief of Defence of the Netherlands (Chief of the Netherlands Defence Staff) from 2004, when he succeeded Lt. Adm. Luuk Kroon, until 2008, when he was succeeded by Gen. Peter van Uhm. In 2005, the post was renamed from Chef-Defensiestaf to Commandant der Strijdkrachten ("Commander of the Armed Forces") following a reorganisation, but the term "Chief of Defence Staff" is still the one usually used in English translations. His office saw Dutch military presence in Uruzgan with ISAF, as well as naval contributions to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, among other interventions. He has been awarded[2] with the Légion d'honneur and the Legion of merit, and the Order of Orange-Nassau, all in the degree of commander, and the Order of Orange-Nassau with swords. Berlijn graduated from the Koninklijke Militaire Academie in 1973.[3]