# Director General of the European Union Military Staff

The Director General of the European Union Military Staff (DGEUMS) is the head of the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) who also serves as Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (Dir MPCC). This position, which was established in 2001, is held by a three-star general. The current holder is lieutenant general Michiel van der Laan, occupying the position since June 2023.

## Task

The Director General is responsible for the EUMS' work in providing strategic advice to the High Representative (HR), reporting to the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) - representing member states' Chiefs of Defence - and performing "early warning", situation assessment and strategic planning.
Since 2017 the DGEUMS has served as Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), and assumes the function of the single commander for all non-executive military missions of the European Union (EU). The DGEUMS exercises command and control over the current three training Missions and other possible future operations. Presently the MPCC may only run non-executive operations. By the end of 2020 the MPCC will be capable of running executive operations of up to 2,500 troops, i.e. the size of one battle group.

### Relation with the rest of the Military Staff, the High Representative and Military Committee

The relationship between the High Representative, the Military Staff and Military Committee as of November 2017:
Colour key:  High Representative (a Vice-President of the Commission)  Military Committee (EUMC; a Council body)  Military Staff (EUMS; a Directorate-General of the External Action Service)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | High Representative | High Representative | High Representative | High Representative | High Representative | High Representative | | | | |
| | | | | Chairman EUMC | Chairman EUMC | Chairman EUMC | Chairman EUMC | Chairman EUMC | Chairman EUMC | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Working Group | Working Group | Working Group | Working Group | Working Group | Working Group | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Working Group/Headline Goal Task Force | Working Group/Headline Goal Task Force | Working Group/Headline Goal Task Force | Working Group/Headline Goal Task Force | Working Group/Headline Goal Task Force | Working Group/Headline Goal Task Force | | | | | | | Director General EUMS/ Director MPCC | Director General EUMS/ Director MPCC | Director General EUMS/ Director MPCC | Director General EUMS/ Director MPCC | Director General EUMS/ Director MPCC | Director General EUMS/ Director MPCC | | |
| | | | | | | | | Legal advisor | Legal advisor | Legal advisor | Legal advisor | Legal advisor | Legal advisor | | | Deputy Director General | Deputy Director General | Deputy Director General | Deputy Director General | Deputy Director General | Deputy Director General | | | Horizontal Coordination | Horizontal Coordination | Horizontal Coordination | Horizontal Coordination | Horizontal Coordination | Horizontal Coordination | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Assistant Chief of Staff for Synchronisation | Assistant Chief of Staff for Synchronisation | Assistant Chief of Staff for Synchronisation | Assistant Chief of Staff for Synchronisation | Assistant Chief of Staff for Synchronisation | Assistant Chief of Staff for Synchronisation | | | EU cell at SHAPE | EU cell at SHAPE | EU cell at SHAPE | EU cell at SHAPE | EU cell at SHAPE | EU cell at SHAPE | | | EU Liaison at the UN in NY | EU Liaison at the UN in NY | EU Liaison at the UN in NY | EU Liaison at the UN in NY | EU Liaison at the UN in NY | EU Liaison at the UN in NY | | | Assistant Chief of Staff for External Relations | Assistant Chief of Staff for External Relations | Assistant Chief of Staff for External Relations | Assistant Chief of Staff for External Relations | Assistant Chief of Staff for External Relations | Assistant Chief of Staff for External Relations | | | NATO Permanent Liaison Team | NATO Permanent Liaison Team | NATO Permanent Liaison Team | NATO Permanent Liaison Team | NATO Permanent Liaison Team | NATO Permanent Liaison Team | | |
| Concepts & Capabilities Directorate | Concepts & Capabilities Directorate | Concepts & Capabilities Directorate | Concepts & Capabilities Directorate | Concepts & Capabilities Directorate | Concepts & Capabilities Directorate | | | Intelligence Directorate | Intelligence Directorate | Intelligence Directorate | Intelligence Directorate | Intelligence Directorate | Intelligence Directorate | | | Operations Directorate | Operations Directorate | Operations Directorate | Operations Directorate | Operations Directorate | Operations Directorate | | | Logistics Directorate | Logistics Directorate | Logistics Directorate | Logistics Directorate | Logistics Directorate | Logistics Directorate | | | Communications & Information Systems Directorate | Communications & Information Systems Directorate | Communications & Information Systems Directorate | Communications & Information Systems Directorate | Communications & Information Systems Directorate | Communications & Information Systems Directorate | | | Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) Chief of Staff Working Group Current Operations | Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) Chief of Staff Working Group Current Operations | Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) Chief of Staff Working Group Current Operations | Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) Chief of Staff Working Group Current Operations | Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) Chief of Staff Working Group Current Operations | Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) Chief of Staff Working Group Current Operations |

### Role in the command and control structure

The EU command and control (C2) structure is directed by political bodies composed of member states' representatives, and generally requires unanimous decisions. As of April 2019:
    Liaison: Advice and recommendations Support and monitoring Preparatory work vte
Political strategic level: :
| Political strategic level: | Political strategic level: | Political strategic level: | Political strategic level: | Political strategic level: | Political strategic level: | ISS | ISS | ISS | ISS | | | | | EUCO Pres. (EUCO) | | | | Chain of command |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Coordination/support | Coordination/support | Coordination/support | Coordination/support | Coordination/support | Coordination/support |
| SatCen | SatCen | SatCen | SatCen | SatCen | SatCen | CIVCOM | CIVCOM | CIVCOM | CIVCOM | CIVCOM | CIVCOM | HR/VP (FAC) | HR/VP (FAC) | HR/VP (FAC) | HR/VP (FAC) | HR/VP (FAC) | HR/VP (FAC) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | INTCEN | INTCEN | INTCEN | INTCEN | INTCEN | INTCEN | | | HR/VP (PMG) | HR/VP (PMG) | HR/VP (PMG) | HR/VP (PMG) | HR/VP (PMG) | HR/VP (PMG) | HR/VP (PSC) | HR/VP (PSC) | HR/VP (PSC) | HR/VP (PSC) | HR/VP (PSC) | HR/VP (PSC) | CEUMC (EUMC) | CEUMC (EUMC) | CEUMC (EUMC) | CEUMC (EUMC) | CEUMC (EUMC) | CEUMC (EUMC) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | CMPD | CMPD | CMPD | CMPD | CMPD | CMPD | | | | | | | | | | | | | DGEUMS (EUMS) | DGEUMS (EUMS) | DGEUMS (EUMS) | DGEUMS (EUMS) | DGEUMS (EUMS) | DGEUMS (EUMS) |
| Military/civilian strategic level: | Military/civilian strategic level: | Military/civilian strategic level: | Military/civilian strategic level: | Military/civilian strategic level: | Military/civilian strategic level: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Dir MPCC (MPCC) | Dir MPCC (MPCC) | Dir MPCC (MPCC) | Dir MPCC (MPCC) | Dir MPCC (MPCC) | Dir MPCC (MPCC) | JSCC | JSCC | JSCC | JSCC | JSCC | JSCC | | | Civ OpCdr CPCC | Civ OpCdr CPCC | Civ OpCdr CPCC | Civ OpCdr CPCC | Civ OpCdr CPCC | Civ OpCdr CPCC |
| Operational level: | Operational level: | Operational level: | Operational level: | Operational level: | Operational level: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Operational level: | Operational level: | Operational level: | Operational level: | Operational level: | Operational level: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MFCdr (MFHQ) | MFCdr (MFHQ) | MFCdr (MFHQ) | MFCdr (MFHQ) | MFCdr (MFHQ) | MFCdr (MFHQ) | | | | | | | HoM | HoM | HoM | HoM | HoM | HoM |
| Tactical level: | Tactical level: | | | | |
| CC Land | CC Land | CC Land | CC Land | CC Land | CC Land | CC Air | CC Air | CC Air | CC Air | CC Air | CC Air | CC Mar | CC Mar | CC Mar | CC Mar | CC Mar | CC Mar | | | Other CCs | Other CCs | Other CCs | Other CCs | Other CCs | Other CCs |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces | Forces |
    $^1$ In the event of a CSDP Civilian Mission also being in the field, the relations with the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC) and its Civilian Operation Commander (Civ OpCdr), as well as the subordinate Head of Mission (HoM), are coordinated as shown.
    $^2$ Other Component Commanders (CCs) and service branches which may be established.
    $^3$ The MPCC is part of the EUMS and Dir MPCC is double-hatted as DGEUMS. Unless the MPCC is used as Operation Headquarters (OHQ), either a national OHQ offered by member states or the NATO Command Structure (NCS) would serve this purpose. In the latter instance, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), rather than Dir MPCC, would serve as Operation Commander (OpCdr).
    $^4$ Unless the MPCC is used as Operation Headquarters (OHQ), the MFCdr would be known as a Force Commander (FCdr), and direct a Force Headquarters (FHQ) rather than a MFHQ. Whereas the MFHQ would act both on the operational and tactical level, the FHQ would act purely on the operational level.
    $^5$ The political strategic level is not part of the C2 structure per se, but represents the political bodies, with associated support facilities, that determine the missions' general direction. The Council determines the role of the High Representative (HR/VP), who serves as Vice-President of the European Commission, attends European Council meetings, chairs the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and may chair the Political and Security Committee (PSC) in times of crisis. The HR/VP proposes and implements CSDP decisions.
    $^6$ Same composition as Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) II, which also prepares for the CSDP-related work of the FAC.

## List of holders

| No. | Director General | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch | Nationality |
| 1 | Schuwirth, RainerLieutenant General Rainer Schuwirth [de] (born 1945) | 11 June 2001 | 1 March 2004 | 2 years, 264 days | German Army | Germany |
| 2 | Schuwirth, RainerLieutenant General Jean-Paul Perruche (born 1947) | 1 March 2004 | 28 February 2007 | 2 years, 364 days | French Army | France |
| 3 | Leakey, DavidLieutenant General David Leakey (born 1952) | 1 March 2007 | 28 May 2010 | 3 years, 88 days | British Army | United Kingdom |
| 4 | Osch, TonLieutenant General Ton van Osch (born 1955) | 28 May 2010 | 28 May 2013 | 3 years, 0 days | Royal Netherlands Army | Netherlands |
| 5 | Wosolsobe, WolfgangLieutenant General Wolfgang Wosolsobe (1955–2018) | 28 May 2013 | 1 May 2016 | 2 years, 339 days | Austrian Land Forces | Austria |
| 6 | Pulkkinen, EsaLieutenant General Esa Pulkkinen (born 1957) | 1 May 2016 | 30 June 2020 | 4 years, 60 days | Finnish Army | Finland |
| 7 | Bléjean, HervéVice Admiral Hervé Bléjean (born 1963) | 30 June 2020 | 28 June 2023 | 2 years, 363 days | French Navy | France |
| 8 | van der Laan, MichielLieutenant General Michiel van der Laan (born 1965) | 28 June 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 243 days | Royal Netherlands Army | Netherlands |

## Deputy

The DGEUMS is assisted by the Deputy Director General and the Chef of Staff (DDG/COS, a two-star general).
List of Deputy Directors General :
| Name | Nationality | Term began | Term ended |
| Rear Admiral Bruce Williams | United Kingdom | 2011 | 2015 |
| Rear Admiral Waldemar Głuszko | Poland | 2015 | 2017 |
| Major General Giovanni Manione | Italy | 2017 | 2022 |
| Major General Gábor Horváth | Hungary | 2022 | |