The Permanent Military Representative

Lieutenant General E.A.E. (Ernst) Dobbenberg

Permanent Military Representative in Brussels
Ernst Dobbenberg is the Permanent Military Representative of the Netherlands to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels, Belgium.
 

The Permanent Military Representative (or Head of the Permanent Military Representation) represents the Dutch interests at NATO from a military point of view.

The Permanent Military Representative acts on behalf of the Chief of Defence (CHOD) and attends the highest military forum within NATO, the Military Committee (MC). The MC meets at least once a week and provides military advice to NATO’s North Atlantic Council (NAC).

Curriculum Vitae Ernst Dobbenberg

Ernst Dobbenberg was born on the 22th of November 1967 in Uden, North Brabant. After completing his officers’ exams in 1991 as an engineer officer, he first served as a platoon commander within the 13 Brigade Engineer Company in Oirschot and subsequently within the 11 Engineer Company (Air Mobile) in Schaarsbergen, earning his red beret in 1992.

In 1994 he commanded his engineer platoon during a deployment to Srebrenica, Bosnia, for 6 months (Dutchbat 1). Following assignments at the Engineer Training and Education Centre in Vught—where, among other duties, he was responsible for the training of engineer officer cadets - he was transferred to the Service for Buildings, Works & Sites to work on military infrastructural matters. Having obtained a recommendation for higher officer education during his staff service, he returned as commander of the 11 Engineer Company (Air Assault) to Schaarsbergen. As a company commander and battalion adviser he deployed to As Samawah as part of Stabilisation Force Iraq (SFIR 4). In 2006 he completed the Higher Officer Education and was subsequently posted at the Defence Staff, where he was responsible for the requirements of land based capabilities and made a major contribution to the Strategic Defence Insights 2010.

In 2010 Dobbenberg assumed command of the 11 Armoured Engineer Battalion in Wezep. In that role he ensured the operational readiness of several units providing engineer support in Afghanistan and regularly assisted civil authorities with advanced search teams. After completing his battalion command he returned to the Defence Staff as Head of the Knowledge & Innovation Department in the rank of colonel. Following his posting in The Hague, he served at the Dutch Permanent Military Representation in Brussels as staff officer for Plans, Policy & Capabilities.

In 2019 he briefly returned to the Royal Netherlands Army as Director of Staff before being promoted to brigade general. At the Defence Materiel Organisation he led the Directorate for Weapons Systems and Logistics Agencies for Fuel, Ammunition and Clothing & Equipment.

He relinquished that position in March 2022 to assume his current appointment as Director of Operational Readiness for the Chief of Defence Staff, a post held at the rank of major general.

Ernst Dobbenberg is married to Petra, has two adult sons, and resides in Gelderland