Kees Matthijssen

Lieutenant General (ret) Cornelis Johannes (Kees) Matthijssen served as Force Commander for the UN Mission MINUSMA in Mali (2022-2023). His almost 43 years of military service include other deployments to Bosnia Herzegovina (1995), Iraq (2004) and Afghanistan (2008-2009) each in a command position at a different level. Furthermore, he was Military Advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2013-2014), Deputy Army Commander and Deputy Chief of Staff Plans in NATO’s Joint Force Command Brunssum as. He holds a Master’s degree of Strategic Studies (MSS). For his exceptional efforts in the Dutch armed forces, he received a Royal Decoration and was appointed Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau with Swords. Furthermore, he has been internationally awarded the French ‘Legion of Honour’ and the German ‘Bundeswehr Cross of Honour’ for his outstanding cooperation with both nations.