General Marc Compernol
Chief of Defence – Belgium
2016
General Marc COMPERNOL was born in Bruges on April 8, 1957. His military career starts in 1972 with three years at the Royal Cadet School in Laeken followed by his attendance at the Royal Military Academy where he graduates with the 130th Polytechnic Promotion obtaining a Master degree in Mechanics and Ballistics. Trained as Field Artillery officer in Brasschaat, Lieutenant Marc Compernol serves throughout various positions in the Airborne Field Arty Bty he would later command. During this command his Battery participates in the operations Sunny Winter in Congo Brazzaville and UNOSOM II in Somalia.
From July 1996 to June 1999, Major Marc Compernol is working at the Army Staff, Plans and Programming Division. During this period he is promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in December 1997.
In June 1999 he takes command of the 2nd Regt Field Arty, stationed in Helchteren. After his period as commanding officer he occupies several staff positions including Chief of the branch Operational Logistics within the Operational Command of the Army (2001), head of the "Synthèse" Division of the Army Staff where he is promoted to Colonel in 2002.
In September 2004, Colonel Marc Compernol becomes the MA to the Assistant Chief of Staff Operations and Training of the Joint Staff. After another stay in the Army Staff as project officer for the Center of Competence Land, he is promoted Major General in 2006 and appointed as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff Operations. He took command of the Belgian Land Component on September 3rd 2009 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General that same month.
On 03 September 2012, he is appointed Assistant Chief of Staff Operations and Training.
On 13 July 2016, he is appointed Chief of Defence and promoted to the rank of General.
General Marc Compernol graduated during his career from Staff College, from Army Command and Staff College (ACSC 28) in Camberley (UK), from the Higher Staff Course and from the Higher Studies for Security and Defense.
General Marc Compernol is married with Anne-Laure Debouver and father of two children, Yannick and Ayesha.