On the 14th of July, 2021, after three years, Director of the NATO Command and Control Centre of Excellence, COL Robert Meeuwsen (NLD A) handed over his duties to his successor COL Mietta Groeneveld (NLD A). The ceremony was held in Utrecht, the Netherlands, in the presence of distinguished military guests, family and personnel.
The leaving Director handed over the flag of the Centre to the new Director and the ceremony was completed by delivering words of appreciation.
Colonel Meeuwsen, who has led the Centre since the summer of 2018, noted during the Change of Command ceremony that it has been an interesting time in which he experienced (and enjoyed) the very powerful, agile construct of the NATO C2COE, performing on the edge of NATO. He stressed and thanked all his staff members for support, contributions and friendship in the last years.
Former NATO C2COE’s Director Meeuwsen emphasised that Colonel Groeneveld will succeed in her role as Director due to the high level of trust, her courage and her managerial competencies. ‘She will give the centre the opportunity to flourish’.
Colonel Groeneveld, whose last assignment was as Branch-Head Management and Services Royal Netherlands Army, greeted her new staff and expressed her admiration for the work done by her predecessor. “With great pride I take over the command of the Command and Control Centre of Excellence. In the past years, I have learned to know the centre as a well respected and competent COE. I know Colonel Meeuwsen brought significant innovation in this centre and also continued the good work done by your predecessors.”
