Jean-Pierre van Aubel | Ministerie van DefensieActing Head of Task Force Production and Security of Supply/Programme Manager International Affairs

Jean-Pierre currently works as Head of Industry at the Directorate for Industry and Innovation at the Netherlands’ Ministry of Defence. 

He started his career at the Ministry in 2003 as a Senior Policy Advisor on European Security and Defence to the Dutch Minister of Defence. Between January 2008 and March 2009 Jean-Pierre was the Personal Advisor to the Head of Mission of the EU Rule of Law Mission EULEX Kosovo, general Yves de Kermabon. After that, he represented The Netherlands in the EU Politico-Military Group (PMG) from August 2010 until August 2014. Between September 2014 and September 2016, Jean-Pierre was the Head of a Ministry of Defence Task Force preparing and executing the EU-Presidency, which The Netherlands held during the first six months of 2016. 

Jean-Pierre worked between 2016 and 2025 for the European External Action Service. He started his career at the EEAS as the permanent Chair of the Politico-Military Group, leading negotiations on CSDP missions and operations, Permanent Structured Cooperation and the European Peace Facility, amongst other topics.

In September 2020 he continued working at the EEAS as Senior Expert on Defence Policy and Strategy. In that capacity he was the penholder of the Strategic Compass for security and defence; contributed to the report on civilian and military preparedness as part of the support team to former Finnish President Niinistö and; was the EEAS penholder of the White Paper on European Defence Readiness 2030. 

Jean-Pierre van Aubel was born in Maastricht, The Netherlands. He studied Public Administration at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam. Jean-Pierre also holds a Master’s degree in European Political and Administrative Studies from the College of Europe where he graduated in 2002 (Promotion Simon Stevin) and now regularly returns to provide guest lectures.