19 Facts About Rob Bauer

Robert Peter Bauer was born on 11 November 1962 and is a Dutch military officer of the Royal Netherlands Navy who has been serving as Chair of the NATO Military Committee from 2021 to 2025.

Rob Bauer previously served as the Chief of Defence from October 2017 to April 2021, and as the Vice Chief of Defence of the Netherlands of the from 1 September 2015 to 13 July 2017.

Rob Bauer entered the Royal Netherlands Navy through the Royal Naval College in 1981 until commissioned as a 3rd class lieutenant in 1984.

Rob Bauer completed the Advanced Strategic and General Studies Programme in 1998.

Rob Bauer commanded HNLMS De Ruyter, a De Zeven Provincien-class air defense and command frigate from 2005 to 2007.

HNLMS De Ruyter was deployed in Bahrain in 2006 where Rob Bauer served as the Deputy Commander of Task Force 150 in the Operation Enduring Freedom in the Arabian Sea.

Rob Bauer took part in anti-piracy operations in the Horn of Africa during their deployment as part of Operation Atalanta, primarily focused on protecting sea lanes and bound for Somalia and neighboring waters.

Rob Bauer commanded HNLMS Johan de Witt, a Rotterdam-class landing platform dock amphibious warfare ship, from 2010 to 2011.

Rob Bauer was promoted to commodore in 2011 and appointed as deputy director of Plans for Operational Policy and Innovation, focusing on the future defense fields of The Netherlands.

Rob Bauer was a member of the Council for Defence Research and Development, the National Council for Cyber Security and the Netherlands Coast Guard Council.

Rob Bauer was appointed Vice Chief of Defence, and promoted to vice admiral, on 22 September 2015.

Rob Bauer eventually became the Chief of Defence on 5 October 2017, after the resignation of Tom Middendorp and then-Minister of Defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert in the aftermath of the death of two Dutch soldiers in a training accident in Mali.

Rob Bauer spearheaded transformations for organizational effectiveness, emphasized more modern strategic defense policies and strengthened the trust between all sectors in the armed forces.

On 9 October 2020, Rob Bauer was elected by various Allied Chiefs of Defence from the NATO Military Committee as the new Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, the senior military adviser to the Secretary General of NATO.

Rob Bauer took up the position replacing Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, on 25 June 2021.

Rob Bauer made efforts to hasten Finland's application to the alliance, while assisting Sweden's accession, despite Turkey and Hungary's opposition.

Rob Bauer emphasized that the Russian Army could "still pose a huge threat and must not be underestimated" due to the overall capabilities.

Rob Bauer spearheaded measures which allowed various members to donate weapons, ammunition, equipment, and supplies to Ukraine aimed in continuing their strong support to Ukraine throughout the conflict, which resulted to a declining ammunition supply towards various NATO members and the challenges facing the alliance's overall weapons stockpiles.

Rob Bauer is married to Maaike Bauer and they have three children.