“Transatlantic Defence Industrial Cooperation Challenges and Prospects” Résidence Palace Brussels 18 July 2003

Ernst A. van Hoek Dr Ernst A. van Hoek (1942) studied experimental physics at the Free University in Amsterdam, specialising on nuclear physics with mathematics, mechanics and electronics as minor fields of study. He got his doctoral degree in 1970. In 1970 he joined the Armed Forces Electronics Laboratory (LEOK) working on a variety of subjects including fuzes and guided missiles. After training courses in the US, he joined the NATO HAWK Management Office (NHMO) in France in December 1975. He was charged with the implementation in Europe of the Hawk Certified Round Missile Management, an activity that was undertaken in collaboration between NHMO and NAMSA. In 1981 he was placed in charge of the Industrial Division of NHMO, a function that he fulfilled until August 1985. During this period the Product Improvement Programme Phase I was successfully completed. In 1985, upon his return to the Netherlands, he joined the newly formed Directorate for Research and Development in the MoD as Head of the Office for R&D coordination. In October 1987 he was appointed Head of the R&D Policy Office and Deputy Director. In February 1989, Dr van Hoek was appointed Director of Research and Development in the Netherlands Ministry of Defence. The main task of this Directorate is to formulate the MOD's policy on Research and Development, and see to it that this policy is implemented. A further task is to co-ordinate the programmes with the Netherlands Defence Research Organisation (TNO). Important aspects are the advance of international collaboration and strengthening of the transfer of know-how from the laboratories to industry. In this function, Dr van Hoek has been vice chairman of the TNO-Defence Research Council and member of the Board of the National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR). In July 1997 Dr van Hoek left these functions in order to take up a NATO position. Dr van Hoek has been a member of various international fora of R&D collaboration: the NATO Defence Research Group that he chaired from March 1992 until its merger with AGARD (1996), and the WEAG Panel II. As Chairman of the DRG he has initiated the reform of this group and was instrumental in launching the NATO R&T Restructuring. In April 1995 he has been nominated as Chairman of the WEAG Panel II. At this time the WEAG started the set-up of its Research Cell that in 1997 moved to its second phase. Dr van Hoek left these WEAG functions after taking up his NATO position. In July 1997 Dr van Hoek became the first Director of the NATO Research and Technology Agency (RTA). The RTA is the support staff for the NATO Research and Technology Organization (RTO), a body formed following the integration of the DRG and AGARD. The RTO is the single focus for all Defence Research and Technology in NATO. He filled this function for a period of 3 years, the standard term for this position. . Important elements were maintaining the networks of the predecessor organizations, the formulation of the NATO R&T Strategy and a general reorientation of NATO R&T to serve customers within NATO and the Nations. Dr van Hoek has also supported the Assistant Secretary for Defence Support and the Director International Military Staff in finding a new way ahead for the NATO Standardisation Office (ONS). In July 2000 Dr van Hoek returned to the office of the Netherlands National Armament Director as Special Advising Director for European Affairs, with emphasis on WEAG, WEAO and EU matters. He took over the external relations of the then Director Defence Research and became himself again Director Defence Research and Development in July 2001. On 1 January 2003 he changed to the position of Chairman of the WEAG NADs during the Netherlands Chairmanship (2003 – 2004). He has further from 1989 until 1995 been chairman of the Society of Defence Engineers (VID) in the Netherlands. He is also a member of the board of the Defence Technology division of the Royal Society of Engineers (KIVI-DT). He is married to Jolanda (Jolly) van Gaalen and has three sons.