As Commander of the Deployable Air Command and Control Centre (DACCC), Major General Traas is responsible for NATO's high-readiness deployable Air Surveillance and Control capability, Deployable Air Operations Centre, and the training of Air Command and Control personnel for the Alliance. In addition, immediately following Russia's Ukraine invasion, he serves as Commander Allied Air Command's personal representative in the position of Deputy Commander Air to the Joint Task Force-Naples Commander.
Major General Traas started his career in 1986 in the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps where he served mostly in a UK/NL Mountain and Arctic Warfare unit. In 1991 he joined the Royal Netherlands Air Force to become a fighter-pilot. After his initial training he fulfilled various jobs in operational squadrons and deployed frequently to participate in Air operations above former Yugoslavia. In addition, he held different staff positions, mainly in the Plans and Policy domain. Major General Traas commanded at the squadron- and wing-level and led an Air Task Force (F-16) in Afghanistan. He was also Deputy Chief Regional Air Operations Coordination Centre South in Afghanistan.
As Chief of the Air Operations Branch in the Plans Directorate (MOD), Major General Traas had a leading role in many international and interdepartmental projects, such as replacement of the F-16, procurement Multi Role Tanker Transport capability and the Integration of Belgium-Luxembourg-Netherlands' national Air Defense. In his capacity of Director Weapon systems and Logistics (Defense Materiel Organization), Major General Traas was closely involved in the procurement and sustainment of main weapon systems, weapons, munitions and personal equipment for the Armed Forces. Prior to his current position he was Director Operations for the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
Major General Traas is a qualified Weapons Instructor, attended Higher- and Top Defense College and has a Master in Political Science.
EDUCATION (year concluded)[1]
1986 Initial Training Marines (Best Man award), Van Ghent barracks, Rotterdam
1988 Military Paratrooper, Engelbrecht van Nassau barracks, Roosendaal
1989 Mountain & Arctic Warfare training, Scotland, Norway
1993 Fighter-pilot training, Netherlands, United States
2000 Dutch Weapons Instructor Course (Academic award), Leeuwarden Airbase
2006 Higher Defence College, Netherlands Defense Academy, Rijswijk
2012 Master Political Science, Leiden University
2017 Top Defense College, Netherlands Defense Academy, Rijswijk
2019 Session Européenne des Responables d'Armement, L'Institut des Hautes Etudes des Defenses Nationale, Paris, France
2022 Combined Forces Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, United States
ASSIGNMENTS (promotions)
1986 - 1991 Several assignments, Royal Navy / Marine Corps
1993 - 2000 Several assignments, 323 Fighter Squadron (F-16), Leeuwarden Airbase
2000 - 2001 Fighter Operations Branch, Tactical Air Command, RNLAF HQ
2001 - 2002 Instructor Fighter Weapons Instructor Training, Leeuwarden Airbase
2002 - 2004 1' Flightcommander, 322 Fighter Squadron (F-16), Leeuwarden Airbase (Major)
2004 - 2005 Policy and Plans Division, RNLAF HQ
2006 - 2008 Commander 322 Fighter Squadron (F-16), Leeuwarden Airbase (Lieutenant-colonel)
2008 - 2011 Deputy Base Commander / Ops Group Commander, Leeuwarden Airbase
2011 - 2013 Personal staff-officer Deputy Director Operational Policy and Requirements, staff Chief of Defense
2013 - 2015 Chief Air Operations Branch, Plans Directorate, staff Chief of Defense (Colonel)
2015 - 2017 Commander Leeuwarden Airbase
2017 - 2019 Director Weapon systems and Logistics, Defense Materiel Organization (Air Commodore)
2019 - 2022 Director Operations and security coordinator, Royal Netherlands Air Force
2022 - Present Commander Deployable Air Command and Control Centre, Poggio Renatico Airbase, Italy (Major General)
2022 - Present Deputy Commander Air, Joint Force Command Naples, Italy
DEPLOYMENTS
Jul 1987 - Jan 1988 Multinational Force & Observers, Sharm-al-Sheik, Egypt
Jun 1995 - Jun 1999 Multiple Air Operations Former Yugoslavia, Villafranca and Amendola Airbases, Italy
Jan 2007 - May 2007 ISAF, Deputy Chief Regional Air Operations Coordination Centre, Kandahar, Afghanistan
Sep 2012 - Jan 2013 ISAF, Commander Air Task Force 21 (F-16), Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan
(updated: July 2022)
[1] Only the most relevant courses and training