Rear Admiral Jan De Beurme

In 1983, Captain De Beurme starts his training at the Royal Military Academy and graduates in Nautical and Military Sciences in 1988.Following his graduation, he commences his professional career on board different mine-counter-measures vessels and frigates.

In 1990, he attends the “Principal Warfare Officer course with additional tickets as Navigation & Action Information and Helicopter Control Officer” at the Operational School in Den Helder, Netherlands. After his year of specialization, he serves on board the frigate “F913 Westhinder”. Additionally, he continues to study at the Free University of Brussels and the Newport University after which he graduates with a Master of Arts Political Sciences (International Relations) as well as a Master of Arts in Human Behaviour.

In 1993, he is appointed as Flag Lieutenant to the Chief of Naval Staff and later to the Belgian Chief of Defence. In 1997, he returns to the fleet and is deployed on board the frigates “F912 Wandelaar” and “F910 Wielingen” as Head of Operations. Following the completion of his pre-commander course in 1997, he is given his first command at sea of the minehunter “M917 Crocus” and sails as part of the permanent NATO squadron of mine-counter-measures vessels “STANAVFORCHAN”.

In 1999, as a Lieutenant-commander, he assumes command of the Belgian Navy Nautical School after which in 2001, as Commander, he serves as a staff officer in the Personnel Branch of the Joint Staff within the Personnel Division. He graduates cum laude from the Staff College in 2004 and is promoted to Commander senior grade in September 2006.

From 2004 until the end of 2007, he is appointed to the personal staff of the Assistant Chief of Defence Strategy of the Joint Staff. During this appointment, he is responsible for the replacement program of the Wielingen class frigates. In January 2008, he is called to be the first commanding officer of the frigate “F931 Louise-Marie”, which Belgium acquired in the framework of the reinvestment programs. During these two years as commanding officer, he establishes operational status of his ship for the first time and participates in operation “ATALANTA” in the Indian Ocean.

In 2010 he is appointed as Assistant Chief of Staff Plans to the Netherlands Maritime Force Maritime Battle Staff and becomes Chief of Staff of quoted Battle Staff in 2012. In the period 2014-2015 he joins the NATO Maritime Command Headquarters in Northwood (United Kingdom) as the Director of Management.

In 2016, Captain De Beurme returns to the Belgian Navy as Chief of Staff and Policy Director. In September 2019, he becomes Chief of Staff following a restructuring of the Navy General Staff.

In September 2020, Captain De Beurme is promoted to Rear Admiral and assumes duty as Commanding Officer of the Navy. He promoted Rear Admiral (upper half) in March 2021.

Born in Deinze in 1965, married to Ann De Jaeger and father of three sons, he lives in the countryside of Sint- Laureins. He has been awarded the following honorary distinctions: Commander in the Order of the Crown, Officer in the Order of Leopold, Military Cross First Class, National Award for Operations abroad, the WEU- medal for the participation in the operations ‘Sharp Guard’ and ‘Sharp Vigilence’ and the EU-Service-medal for participation in the operation ‘Atalanta’.