The Ministry of Defence (, , ), formerly called the Ministry of War and Ministry of National Defence, is the Belgian ministry responsible for national defence and the Belgian military. Belgium's ministry of defence is responsible to the Minister of Defence.
As a result of the Verhofstadt I Government's plans to modernise the federal administration, all other ministries were transformed into Federal Public Services (FPS), but in August 2007 there still was no Royal Order creating the FPS Defence, although that name is already in use on official websites.
The Chief of Defence (CHOD) is the highest uniformed official in the Ministry of Defence. The CHOD is assisted in the exercise of his functions by a Vice-Chief of Defence (VCHOD) and a Secretary-General.
The Ministry of Defence is organised into multiple staff departments and directorates-general. The Armed Forces are subordinate to the Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) Operations and Training, who heads the Staff Department for Operations and Training. He is assisted by two Deputy Assistant Chiefs of Staff (DACOS), one for Operations and Planning and one for Training and Support.
Another staff department is the Staff Department for Intelligence and Security, which is led by the ACOS Intelligence and Security. This staff department is also known as the General Intelligence and Security Service and is responsible for military intelligence and security.
Ministers of Defence Year Photo Minister Party 1831 Albert Goblet d'Alviella Liberal 1831 Charles d'Hane de Steenhuyze Liberal 1831 Liberal 1831–1832 Charles de Brouckère Liberal 1832 Félix de Merode Liberal 1832–1836 Louis Evain ? 1836–1840 Jean-Pierre Willmar Liberal 1840–1842 Gérard Buzen Liberal 1842–1843 Liberal 1843 Léandre Desmaisières Liberal 1843–1846 Pierre Dupont Liberal 1846 Jules Joseph d'Anethan Catholic 1846–1847 Albert Prisse Catholic1847–1850 Félix Chazal Liberal1850–1851 Mathieu Brialmont Liberal1851–1855 Victor Anoul Liberal1855–1857 Léonard Greindl ?1857–1859 Edouard Berten Liberal1859–1866 Félix Chazal Liberal1866–1868 Auguste Goethals Liberal1868–1870 Bruno Renard None (technical expert) 1870–1873 Gustave Henri Louis Guillaume None (technical expert) 1873–1878 Séraphin Thiebault None (technical expert) 1878–1879 Bruno Renard None (technical expert) 1879–1880 Jean-Baptiste Liagre None (technical expert) 1880–1884 Guillaume Gratry None (technical expert) 1884–1893 Charles Pontus None (technical expert) 1893–1896 Jacques Brassine None (technical expert) 1896–1899 Jules Vandenpeereboom Catholic1899–1907 Alexandre Cousebandt d'Alkemade None (technical expert) 1907–1912 Joseph Hellebaut None (technical expert) 1912 Charles de Broqueville Catholic1912 Victor Michel None (technical expert) 1912–1917 Charles de Broqueville Catholic1917–1918 Armand De Ceuninck None (technical expert) 1918–1920 Fulgence Masson Liberal1920 Paul-Emile Janson Liberal1920–1923 Albert Devèze Liberal1923–1925 Pierre Forthomme Liberal1925 Albert Hellebaut None (technical expert) 1925–1926 Prosper Kestens None (technical expert) 1926 Prosper Poullet Catholic1926–1931 Charles de Broqueville Catholic1931–1932 Léon Dens Liberal1932 Paul Crokaert Catholic1932 Georges Theunis Catholic1932–1936 Albert Devèze Liberal1936–1940 Henri Denis None (technical expert) 1940–1944 Hubert Pierlot Catholic*1942 Henri Rolin POB-BWP1944–1945 Fernand Demets Liberal1945–1946 Léon Mundeleer Liberal1946–1949 Raoul de Fraiteur None (technical expert) 1949–1950 Albert Devèze Liberal1950 Henri Moreau de Melen Christian Social Party 1950–1954 Eugène De Greef None (technical expert) 1954–1958 Antoon Spinoy PSB-BSP1958–1961 Arthur Gilson Christian Social Party 1961–1965 Paul-Willem Segers CVP 1965–1966 Ludovic Moyersoen CVP1966–1968 Charles Poswick PLP1968–1972 Paul-Willem Segers CVP1972–1979 Paul Vanden Boeynants PSC1979–1980 José Desmarets PSC1980 Charles Poswick PRL 1980–1981 Frank Swaelen CVP1981–1985 Alfred Vreven PVV1985–1988 François-Xavier de Donnéa PRL 1988–1992 Guy Coëme PS 1992–1994 Leo Delcroix CVP1994–1995 Karel Pinxten CVP1995 Melchior Wathelet PSC1995–1999 Jean-Pol Poncelet PSC
2000s Portrait Name(Born-Died) Term Political Party Government Took office Left office Duration
* Incumbent's term duration last updated: .
See also Military of Belgium Defence Diplomacy
References
External links