The Chief of Defence (Dutch: Chef Defensie; French: Chef de la Défense, abbreviated as CHOD), is the professional head and commander of the Belgian Armed Forces. He is the highest official within the Ministry of Defence and the Chief of the Defence Staff. He reports directly to the Minister of Defence and is responsible for advising the Minister, for the implementation of defence policy and for the administration of the department. The current Chief of Defence is General Frederik Vansina, since July 2024.

Chiefs of Staff (1958−present)

No.PortraitChief of StaffTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branchRef.
1de Clarcq, JacquesLieutenant General Jacques de Clarcq28 February 195830 November 19591 year, 275 daysBelgian Land Component–
2de Cumont, Charles PaulLieutenant General Baron Charles Paul de Cumont (1902–1990)9 December 195930 June 19633 years, 203 daysBelgian Land Component–
3Wagner, G.Lieutenant General G. Wagner1 July 196331 March 19651 year, 273 daysBelgian Land Component–
4Dessart, V.Lieutenant General V. Dessart1 April 196531 March 19682 years, 365 daysBelgian Land Component–
5Dessart, GeorgesLieutenant General Baron Georges Vivario (1910–1990)1 April 196814 March 19723 years, 348 daysBelgian Land Component–
6Crekillie, ArmandLieutenant General Armand Crekillie (1922–2006)15 March 197231 October 19797 years, 230 daysBelgian Air Component–
7Gontier, WillyLieutenant General Willy Gontier1 November 197930 September 19822 years, 334 daysBelgian Land Component–
8Gysemberg, MauriceLieutenant General Baron Maurice Gysemberg[fr] (1927–2001)1 October 198221 July 19885 years, 265 daysBelgian Land Component–
9Charlier, JoséLieutenant General José Charlier (born 1934)22 July 198830 September 19957 years, 71 daysBelgian Land Component–
10Herteleer, WillyAdmiral Willy Herteleer (born 1941)1 November 199531 December 20027 years, 91 daysBelgian Navy–
11Van Daele, AugustGeneral August Van Daele[nl] (1944–2017)1 January 20031 April 20096 years, 90 daysBelgian Air Component–
12Delcour, Charles-HenriGeneral Charles-Henri Delcour[nl] (born 1948)2 April 200929 March 20122 years, 363 daysBelgian Land Component–
13van Caelenberge, GerardGeneral Gerard Van Caelenberge (born 1952)13 July 201213 July 20164 years, 0 daysBelgian Air Component–
14Compernol, MarcGeneral Marc Compernol (born 1957)13 July 201610 July 20203 years, 363 daysBelgian Land Component–
15Hofman, MichelAdmiral Michel Hofman (born 1961)10 July 20204 July 20243 years, 360 daysBelgian Navy
16Vansina, FrederikGeneral Frederik Vansina (born 1964)4 July 2024Incumbent1 year, 287 daysBelgian Air Component