Peter van Uhm
fm Dutch General who lost his son to a roadside bomb in Afghanistan! Assemblee Speakers is the official booking agent of General Peter van Uhm.
Timeline
- 2008
- Commandant der Strijdkrachten. (2008-2012)
- 2005
- Commandant der Landstrijdkrachten. (2005-2008)
- 2004
- Directeur Beleid en Plannen (generaal majoor) Landmachtstaf (2004-2005)
- 2001
- Commandant Luchtmobiele Brigade, Defensie (2001-2004)
- 2000
- Uitzending Sarajevo (2000-2001)
- 1998
- Hoofd Afdeling Militaire Strategische Aangelegenheden, Defensiestaf (1998-2000)
Biography
Peter van Uhm was born in Nijmegen, the Netherlands in 1955. In 1972, after his secondary education, he attended the Infantry officer training course at the Royal Military Academy in Breda. After training, he was assigned as platoon commander to 48 Mechanised Infantry Battalion. After having been a platoon commander at the Royal Military School in Weert in 1978, Van Uhm returned in 1979 to 48 Mechanised Infantry Battalion, where he was initially deputy company commander and later company commander.
In 1982, he was appointed Company Commander with 43th Armoured Infantry Battalion and, in this position, was deployed to Lebanon in 1983. After his return to the Netherlands, Captain Van Uhm was posted to 48th Armoured Infantry Battalion for a short time. From 1984 to 1986, he attended the Staff Service and Advanced Military Studies courses at the Royal Netherlands Army Staff College. In 1986, in the rank of major, he was the Deputy Head of Operations of 1 Division “7 December”. His next two positions were at the Royal Netherlands Army staff, first as Head of the Training Policy Office and then, in the rank of lieutenant colonel, as Head of the Training Section.
In 1991, Van Uhm spent a short period working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Defence liaison officer during the preparation phase of the European Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM). He was subsequently appointed Head of the Plans Division of 1(NL) Corps staff. In 1994, he was appointed battalion commander of 11 Infantry Battalion, Grenadiers and Rifles Guards of the – at that time extremely new – Airmobile Brigade.
From 1995, in the rank of colonel, Van Uhm held the position of Head of the Personal Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Netherlands Army, which was followed by his appointment as Head of the General Policy Division of the Army Staff. He was subsequently appointed Head of the Military-Strategic Affairs Division of the Defence Staff .
In 2000, and in the rank of brigadier general, he worked at the Headquarters of the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Sarajevo as Assistant Chief of Staff for Joint Military Affairs. In July 2001, he subsequently assumed command of 11 Airmobile Brigade and, later, 11 Air Manoeuvre Brigade, a composite unit comprising 11 Airmobile Brigade and the Tactical Helicopter Group.
After a period of two years, Van Uhm bid farewell to the 11 Airmobile Brigade and was appointed Deputy Director of Policy and Planning, which was followed by his appointment to head of the same directorate in the rank of major general.
On 8 July 2005, Major General Van Uhm assumed command of Operational Command ‘7 December’, replacing Major General Leen Noordzij. On 5 September 2005, Lieutenant General van Uhm was appointed Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army.
On 17 April 2008 General van Uhm became Chief of Defence of the Netherlands.
Employability
Speaker
PETER VAN UHM AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER
His keynote sessions about leadership motivate, inspire and share the lessons of Talent and Strategy.
In his keynote sessions Peter van Uhm will discuss the personal courage you need when making difficult choices. Van Uhm was commander of the Land Forces between 2005 and 2008. In the same year he was appointed commander of the Armed Forces, his son, First Lieutenant Dennis van Uhm, was killed in Uruzgan at the age of 23 by an attack with a roadside bomb.
Peter van Uhm explains how to use your inner compass, courage and loyalty to your principles, and how this provides direction in difficult periods. About the importance of values such as respect and trust, perseverance and taking responsibility.
General Peter van Uhm was the Netherlands’ chief of defense, but that does not mean he is pro-war. At TEDxAmsterdam he explained how his career is one shaped by a love of peace, not a desire for bloodshed — and why we need armies if we want peace. Van Uhm — who lost his son to a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2008 — goes on to explain why he chose the military.
His mission is to inspire people to make the world a better place.
Literature
Ik koos het wapen
In 'Ik koos het wapen' vertelt Peter van Uhm openhartig en op inspirerende wijze zijn levensverhaal. Op 17 april 2008 werd hij geïnstalleerd als commandant der strijdkrachten. De volgende dag, zijn eerste werkdag als hoogste militair van Nederland, sneuvelde zijn zoon Dennis bij een aanslag in Afghanistan. Ondanks de bizarre omstandigheden bleef Van Uhm op zijn post om de krijgsmacht te leiden.
Notities van een generaal
Veertig lessen over leven en leiderschap
Inspirerende levenslessen voor je carrière en je persoonlijke leven van Nederlands bekendste militair.
Op 17-jarige leeftijd koos Peter van Uhm voor een carrière bij de krijgsmacht. Veertig jaar later zwaaide hij af als Nederlands hoogste militair en baas van ruim zestigduizend mensen. Al die tijd droeg hij een notitieboekje bij zich, waarin hij waardevolle inzichten en ervaringen noteerde.
In dit boek deelt van Uhm zijn persoonlijke inzichten en lessen in leiderschap. Lessen die bruikbaar zijn binnen de krijgsmacht, maar zeker ook daarbuiten. Over vertrouwen en omgaan met kritiek. Over moed, schuld en verantwoordelijkheid. En over hoe ook jij leiding kunt geven, al is het maar aan je eigen gedrag.
