Peter van Uhm

{{short description|Dutch general}} {{more footnotes needed|date=January 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [[Four-star rank|General]] | name = Peter van Uhm | honorific_suffix = | image = Peter van Uhm.jpg | image_size = | caption = Peter van Uhm in 2008 | alt = | nickname = | office = [[Chief of Defence (Netherlands)|Chief of Defence]] | term_start = 17 April 2008 | term_end = 28 June 2012 | predecessor = General [[Dick Berlijn]] | successor = General [[Tom Middendorp]] | office1 = [[Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army]] | term_start1 = 5 September 2005 | term_end1 = 13 March 2008 | predecessor1 = Lieutenant general [[Marcel Urlings]] | successor1 = Lieutenant general [[Rob Bertholee]] | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|06|15|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Nijmegen]], Netherlands | death_date =  | death_place = | placeofburial = | allegiance = {{flag|Netherlands}} | branch = {{army|Netherlands}} | service_years = 1972–2012 | rank = [[File:Netherlands-Army-OF-9.svg|20px]] [[Full General|General]] | servicenumber = | unit = | commands = [[Chief of Defence (Netherlands)|Chief of Defence]] <br/> [[Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army]] <br/> [[11th Airmobile Brigade (Netherlands)|11th Airmobile Brigade]] | battles = {{tree list}} * [[Cold War]] ** [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon|Lebanon (UNIFIL)]] * [[Bosnian War]] ** [[SFOR]] * [[War on terror]] ** [[Iraq War]] ** [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]] {{tree list/end}} | battles_label = | awards = | memorials = | spouse = | relations = | laterwork = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | website = | module = }}

'''Petrus Johannes Mathias "Peter" van Uhm''' (born 15 June 1955) is a retired [[Royal Netherlands Army]] [[Four-star rank|general]]. He served as [[Chief of Defence (Netherlands)|Chief of Defence]] of the [[Armed forces of the Netherlands]] from 17 April 2008 until 28 June 2012. He previously served as the [[Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army]] from 5 September 2005 until 13 March 2008.

==Biography== Van Uhm was born in the Dutch city of [[Nijmegen]], the son of a [[baker]]. He is the elder brother of [[Marc van Uhm]], who is also a general in the Royal Netherlands Army. He was first attracted to a career in the [[Royal Netherlands Army|army]] in high school, where he heard stories about the liberation of Nijmegen in 1944. He enrolled at the [[Koninklijke Militaire Academie]] in [[Breda]] in 1972, attending the [[infantry|Infantry officer training course]]. He completed his training within the required four years and was posted to the 48th Mechanised Infantry Battalion in [['s-Hertogenbosch]] in 1976. He served there until 1982, with a short break in 1978 during which he served as a platoon commander at the Royal Military School in [[Weert]]. In 1982 Van Uhm was reassigned to the 43rd Mechanised Infantry Battalion as a Company Commander for Company A; he was deployed to [[Lebanon]] in this role in 1983 as part of the [[UNIFIL]] mission. Returning to The Netherlands a [[captain (OF-2)|captain]], he was posted the 48th Armoured Infantry Battalion for a short stint.

From 1984 to 1986 Van Uhm attended the Staff Service and Advanced Military Studies courses at the [[Royal Netherlands Army Staff College]] at [[The Hague]]. Following this (and a promotion to [[Major (rank)|major]]) he was assigned to the First Division staff as deputy Head of Operations. He then held the position of Head of the Training Policy Office at the Royal Netherlands Army Staff and (following promotion to [[lieutenant-colonel]]), Head of the Training Section.

In 1991 Van Uhm spent some time working at the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] as a liaison officer, aiding in the preparation of the [[European Community Monitoring Mission]] (ECMM). Following that he served as head of the Plans Division at the staff of Dutch First Corps. In 1994, following the creation of the Dutch 11th Infantry Battalion [[11 Luchtmobiele Brigade|Air Assault Brigade]], Van Uhm was appointed Battalion Commander of their Grenadiers and Rifles Guards. He served there for a year, until his promotion to full [[colonel]] in 1995, when he was transferred to the Personal Office of the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army, as Head of the Office. He then served as Head of the General Policy Division of the Army Staff and then as Head of the Military-Strategic Affairs Division of the Defense Staff.

At the turn of the millennium Van Uhm, then a [[brigadier general]], was assigned to headquarters of the Stabilisation Force [[SFOR]] in [[Sarajevo]] as Assistant Chief of Staff for Joint Military Affairs. Van Uhm assumed command of the entire 11th Air Assault Brigade in July 2001 and of the 11th Air Manoeuvre Brigade following that. (The Air Manoeuvre Brigade was a combined force consisting of the Air Assault Brigade and the Tactical Helicopter Group).

Completing two years as Commander of the Air Assault Brigade, Van Uhm was subsequently appointed Deputy Director of Policy and Planning with the Royal Dutch Army staff in 2003. He was appointed Director (with a promotion to [[major general]]) in July 2004. He held this position until 8 July 2005, when he succeeded Major General [[Leen Noordzij]] as commanding officer of [[Operational Command]] ‘7 December’. This was followed shortly, on 5 September 2005, by promotion to [[Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army]] (Commandant der Landstrijdkrachten, C-LAS). Commensurate with this office he was promoted to [[lieutenant general]] and held the post until 13 March 2008, when he was succeeded by Lieutenant General [[Rob Bertholee]]. He was awarded the ''[[Bronzen Soldaat]]'' at that time, for his exceptional service to the army.

On 17 April 2008, Van Uhm was promoted to full [[general]] and appointed [[Chief of Defence (Netherlands)|Chief of Defence]] (CHOD).

The [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Minister of Defence]], [[Hans Hillen]], announced on 28 September 2011 that Van Uhm will stand down in 2012, and be succeeded by Major General [[Tom Middendorp]].<ref>[http://www.nos.nl/artikel/276776-middendorp-opvolger-van-uhm.html Middendorp opvolger Van Uhm] {{in lang|nl}}</ref>

Van Uhm transferred command to Middendorp on 28 June 2012. During the transfer-of-command ceremony he was made a Commander in the Military Division of the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]] and was made a special [[aide-de-camp]] to [[Beatrix of the Netherlands|Queen Beatrix]].<ref name="retcomm">{{cite web |url=http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4492/Nederland/article/detail/3278548/2012/06/28/Van-Uhm-koninklijk-onderscheiden.dhtml |title=Van Uhm koninklijk onderscheiden |date= 28 June 2012 |work=Trouw |language=Dutch}}</ref>

On 30 April 2013, Van Uhm served as [[King of Arms]] during the Investiture Ceremony of King [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]].

===Loss of Van Uhm's son=== Van Uhm's promotion to CHOD was accompanied by personal tragedy as, on 18 April 2008, his son [[Lieutenant|First Lieutenant]] Dennis van Uhm was killed in a roadside bombing in [[Uruzgan]], the southern province of Afghanistan.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7354250.stm Bomb kills Dutch commander's son], BBC.co.uk</ref><ref name="nytimes1">[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/world/asia/19afghanistan.html "Son of New Dutch Military Chief Killed in Afghanistan"], 18 April 2008, www.nytimes.com</ref> A spokesman for the [[Taliban]] claimed that militants had known about his movements and had targeted him. The Dutch government rejected this claim. [[Prime Minister]] [[Jan Peter Balkenende]] said in [[The Hague]]: "Our information is that there is no indication of any link between this cowardly deed and the fact that it was the son of the defense chief."<ref name="nytimes1"/><ref name="nytimes2">[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/world/europe/18iht-afghan.4.12147865.html "Violence in Afghanistan makes a personal impact on Holland"], 18 April 2008, www.nytimes.com</ref>

==Honours and awards== [[File:HVO + NATO.jpg|thumb|Dutch (SFOR)* and NATO (SFOR)** medals for Peace Keeping Operations in the former Yugoslavia]] {| |[[File:Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon - Commander.svg|60px]] || (Dutch) [[Order of Orange-Nassau|Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau]] (Military Division)<ref name="retcomm"/> |- |[[File:Herinneringsmedaille VN-Vredesoperaties met de gesp LIBANON 1979.jpg|60px]] || (Dutch Commemorative Medal for) UN Peace Keeping Operations in Lebanon, March 1979 - October 1983 ([[UNIFIL]]) |- |[[File:HMV-Former-Yugoslavia.jpg|60px]] || (Dutch Commemorative Medal for) Multinational Peace Keeping Operations in the former Yugoslavia |- |[[File:NLD Commemorative Medal for Peace Keeping Operations BAR.svg|60px]] || (Dutch Commemorative Medal for) Peace Keeping Operations ([[SFOR]])* |- |[[File:NLD Officers' Cross bar.svg|60px]] || (Dutch Commemorative medal for) [[Onderscheidingsteken voor Langdurige Dienst als officier|Long Service as an Officer]] |- |[[File:Landmachtmedaille Nederland 2002-ribbon.jpg|60px]] || (Dutch) Army medal |- | [[File:NOC*NSF national sports medal BAR.svg|60px]] || Medal of Capability from the [[NOC*NSF|Dutch Olympic Committee]] |- |[[File:UN UNIFIL Medal ribbon.svg|60px]] || Medal of the [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon]] (UNIFIL) |- |[[File:NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg|60px]] || [[NATO Medal]] (SFOR - former [[Yugoslavia]])** |- |[[File:Medaille commemorative Francaise ribbon.svg|60px]] || [[French commemorative medal]] (France) |- |[[File:CHL Orden del Merito (Comendador) GAF.png|60px]] || Commander of the [[Naval Order of Merit]] ([[Chile]]) |- |[[File:SWE Order of the Polar Star (after 1975) - Commander BAR.png|60px]] || Commander of the [[Order of the Polar Star]] ([[Sweden]]) |- |[[File:Legion Honneur Officier ribbon.svg|60px]] || Officer of the [[Légion d'honneur|Legion of Honour]] (France)<ref>{{cite web |title=Décoration Légion d'honneur pour le général Van Uhm |url=http://www.ambafrance-nl.org/Decoration-Legion-d-honneur-pour |work=La France aux Pays-Bas - Ambassade de France à La Haye |publisher=Ministère des Affaires étrangères |accessdate=July 1, 2012 |language=French |date=September 23, 2009 |quote=Le 23 septembre 2009, le Commandant des Forces armées néerlandaises, le général d’armée Van Uhm, a reçu de l’ambassadeur de France aux Pays-Bas, M. Jean-François Blarel les insignes d’officier de la Légion d’honneur.}}</ref> |- |[[File:AUS Order of Australia (military) BAR.svg|60px]] || Honorary [[Officer of the Order of Australia]] (Military Division)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.defence.gov.au/2012/06/19/chief-of-the-defence-force-honours-netherlands-counterpart/ |title=(Australian) Chief of the Defence Force honours Netherlands counterpart |date= June 19, 2012 |work=(Australian) Department of Defence media release}}</ref><ref>[http://images.defence.gov.au/11123290 Photos of Order of Australia presentation], defence.gov.au</ref> |- |[[File:AFG High State Medal of Ghazi Mir Masjidi Khan ribbon.png|60px]] || Mir Masjedi khan Ghazi ([[Afghanistan]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nu.nl/buitenland/2838460/hoogste-medaille-afghanistan-van-uhm.html |title=Hoogste medaille Afghanistan voor Van Uhm |date= June 18, 2012 |work=nu.nl|language=Dutch}}</ref> |}

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== * {{in lang|nl}} [http://www.assemblee.nl/8001/spreker/Peter-van-Uhm.aspx Generaal b.d. Peter van Uhm] Assemblee

{{Commons category}} {{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-bef|before=[[Leen Noordzij]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Commander of the [[11th Airmobile Brigade (Netherlands)|11th Airmobile Brigade]]|years=2001–2003}} {{s-aft|after=[[Koen Gijsberts]]}} {{s-new}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army]]|years=2005–2008}} {{s-aft|after=[[Rob Bertholee]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Dick Berlijn]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of Defence (Netherlands)|Chief of Defence]] of the [[Armed forces of the Netherlands]]|years=2008–2012}} {{s-aft|after=[[Tom Middendorp]]}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uhm, Peter van}} [[Category:1955 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Chiefs of Defence (Netherlands)]] [[Category:Commanders of the Order of Orange-Nassau]] [[Category:Commanders of the Royal Netherlands Army]] [[Category:Royal Netherlands Army generals]] [[Category:Royal Netherlands Army officers]] [[Category:Dutch military personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]] [[Category:Military personnel of the Bosnian War]] [[Category:Commanders of the Order of the Polar Star]] [[Category:Honorary officers of the Order of Australia]] [[Category:Officers of the Legion of Honour]] [[Category:Recipients of the NATO Meritorious Service Medal]] [[Category:Graduates of the Koninklijke Militaire Academie]] [[Category:People from Nijmegen]]