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03 4 2022

New Chief of Staff begins work at the NCI Agency

NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) Chief of Staff Major General Göksel Sevindik handed over the role to Major General Hans Folmer on 3 March 2022.

The NCI Agency held a ceremony on 3 March 2022 at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, to mark the occasion.

NCI Agency General Manager Ludwig Decamps said: "MGEN Sevindik, you can leave knowing that you have made a significant contribution to the Agency and to NATO. You have been a key leader within the Agency's executive team, guiding us in smart and people-centred decision-making. Thank you for your dedication to this Agency, and to NATO."

MGEN Folmer was formerly Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the NATO Communications and Information Systems Information Group (NCISG) in Mons, Belgium. In this role, he was also appointed Acting Commander of the NCISG and Deputy Chief of Staff Cyberspace at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) for a period of time.

Prior to his most recent role at the NCISG, MGEN Folmer served as the first Commander of the Netherlands Defence Cyber Command, after working as Commander of the Cyber Task Force, tasked to implement the cyber programme in the Netherlands Armed Forces.

The exiting Chief of Staff, Major General Göksel Sevindik (left), and the Incoming Chief of Staff Major General Hans Folmer (right).

Exiting Chief of Staff Major General Göksel Sevindik said: "The NCI Agency has extremely talented, capable staff, who execute difficult, challenging projects every day. Their work is absolutely essential to NATO. Thanks to NCI Agency staff, Allies have secure communications during operations and exercises, protected networks to share information and essential technology to defend the Alliance from ballistic missile threats. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as Chief of Staff of the NCI Agency."

Incoming Chief of Staff Major General Hans Folmer said: "I will continue with what you have started. Continue with the great journey the NCI Agency is in. Continue to optimize, to modernize and to transform. NATO's digital transformation is key for the success of the Alliance."