Jan Abts

Jan Abts is currently the Director of the CHOD’s Private Office at Defensie, a position held since 2020. Abts has extensive military experience, having served as a Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the ISTAR Battalion in the Belgian Defence from 2011 to 2014, and in various roles, including Major in the US Army and Operations and Training Officer in the Belgian First Brigade. Abts also held multiple lieutenant colonel and colonel positions, including Faculty Adviser at the NATO Defense College. They earned degrees in Political and Military Sciences from the Koninklijke Militaire School and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, as well as completing the NATO Defense College Senior Course.