Rear Admiral Hank ORT RNLN

Chief of Staff Allied Maritime Command Northwood

  

Rear Admiral Hank Ort (1957) took up the post of Chief of Staff to the Allied Maritime Component Command Northwood in August 2009.

Prior to his appointment he had been the Netherlands Ministry of Defence Chief Information Office (CIO) since January 2007. In this position he was responsible for Defence Policy on information management and organisation.

Before that he commanded the Netherlands Maritime Force (NLMARFOR) from its inception in 2005 after having played a central role in its creation as Commander Belgian Netherlands Task Group (the precursor to NLMARFOR) in 2004. In early 2006 as COMNLMARFOR, he commanded the International Combined Task Force 150 in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

From 2002 to 2004, he commanded the Landing Platform Dock (LPD) HNLMS Rotterdam. During this period, the ship deployed as the amphibious support platform for the initial deployment of the United Nations Mission to Liberia (UNMIL). Prior to that, in 2000, he was attached to the European Union to participate in setting up the EU Military Staff in Brussels, where he went on to fill the post of Chief Executive Officer. Earlier periods in the Naval staff in The Hague included appointments as Deputy Director Plans, and as Staff Officer Submarines in the Department of Operational requirements.

Having joined the Navy in 1975 he served both in submarines and surface ships. He commanded multi purpose frigate HNLMS Van Nes (1996 – 97) and the submarines HNLMS Tonijn and HNLMS Tijgerhaai (1990 – 92).

He is a graduate of the RN Submarine Command Course in 1989 (SMCC 3/89) and the long Naval Staff Course of 1992. He is married to Karin and they have one daughter.
Apart from activities with his family, his favourite pastimes are jogging, reading, and enjoying classical music. He is a committee member for the Simon Vestdijk Literary Society, and Editor of the Vestdijkkroniek periodical.