Meet the speakers

Rear Admiral Chris Parry

Former Director General Concepts, Doctrine and Development, UK MoD

He joined the Royal Navy as a Seaman Officer in 1972 and then became an Observer in the Fleet Air Arm in 1979. He was mentioned in despatches during the Falklands War for the rescue of 16 SAS men from Fortuna Glacier, South Georgia, and for his role in detecting and disabling the Argentinian submarine ARA Santa Fe. He later commanded HMS Gloucester, HMS Fearless and the United Kingdom's Amphibious Task Group. At sea, he was known for his use of unconventional tactics, original thinking and innovative methods, as well as his trademark motto 'old dog, new tricks' and the high standard of training of his ship's companies. His motivation was "to give my ship and her ship's company the best chance of success and survival".

On promotion to Rear Admiral, he became, in 2005, the Ministry of Defence's Director General of Development, Concepts and Doctrine, where he was responsible for the doctrinal and conceptual development of the UK Armed Forces to 2025. In this role, he sought to introduce new conceptual approaches, especially in relation to the strategy and tactics needed in the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, especially with his inter-Agency and inter-Departmental approach which he then transformed into the 'Comprehensive Approach', and Countering Irregular Activity; these were eventually adopted as part of the 'Petraeus Plan' for Iraq. In 2006, he gave a lecture at the Royal United Services Institute about the dangers to international security of climate change, migration and global inequality, together with the possibility of the re-emergence of other states as strategic competitors. He was also the author of the DCDC Global Strategic Trends Programme 2007-36, which, among other assessments that were subsequently confirmed by events, foresaw the collapse of the world's financial system, the re-emergence of piracy at sea and the Russian intervention in Georgia.

Today, he is one of the UK's leading experts on strategic forecasting and geo-strategic trend-spotting and a noted thinker on all aspects of the current and future maritime and marine environment.

Brig. Gen. Wolfgang Krippl,

General of the German Army Corps of Engineers and Commandant of the German Army Engineer School , and the Army School of Construction Engineering, Bundeswehr

Brigadier General Wolfgang Krippl joined the Bundeswehr in 1970. As part of his officer training he attended various training courses at the Army Officer School, the Army Engineer School and the Bundeswehr Command and Staff College. Brigadier General Krippl was employed as platoon leader, company commander, battalion commander and commander of an engineer brigade. He had staff assignments as a General Staff Officer in a combat brigade and the Army Forces Command. Moreover, he was an instructor at the Engineer School, Section Chief in the Army Office, Senior Official at the Federal Foreign Office and Branch Chief in the Army Forces Command. Brigadier General Krippl was the Commander of the engineer task force which built a refugee camp in Iran as part of the international provision of aid for Kurdish people in 1991. In 1993, he was the Senior Engineer Officer in the German contingent of UNOSOM II in Somalia, and in 2002 he was the Chief Engineer in the HQ KFOR in Pristina/ Kosovo. He became the Commandant of the United Nations Training Centre of Bundeswehr in 2003. In 2005 he was the Commandant of the German Army Combat Training Centre, where all operational forces of the Army are prepared for their missions abroad. Since 2007 Brigadier General Krippl has been the General of the German Army Corps of Engineers and the Commandant of the Engineer School and Army School of Construction Engineering. He used to be the Chairman of the NATO Working Group TEPSO and is now the Chairman Steering Committee Military Engineering Centre of Excellence.

Col. Otto Radlmeier,

Director, NATO Centre of Excellence Military Engineering

Colonel Otto Radlmeier was born in Massenhausen, County Freising, Bavaria, Germany on June 17, 1953

02.10.1972 Joined the Bundeswehr as a conscript 1978 -1980 Reconnaissance Officer in an Amphibious Engineer Company 1980 -1982 Company Commander of an Amphibious Engineer Company 1982 -1987 Senior instructor at the German Engineer School and Army School of Constructional Engineering for Amphibious crossing equipment course Officer / Reserve officer course "Skorpion" mine launcher course 1987 -1991 Company Commander of an Armored Engineer Company 1991 -1993 Deputy Commander of an Engineer Battalion 1993 -1996 Commander Engineer Battalion 12 in Volkach, Bavaria 1996 -1997 Chief of Section 1, Engineer Development Division, German Army Engineer School 1997-2002 SO1 Engineer at GE TRADOC 2002 -2002 Chief of Engr/NBC section at GE TRADOC 2002 -2004 Liaison Officer in UK, MINLEY 2004 -2008 Director Engineer Development Division, German Army Engineer School 2008 -2009 Head of Training Division and Deputy Commander German Army Engineer School

Col. Daniel Larsen

Director, Training and Leader Development, US Army Engineer School

Colonel Daniel S. Larsen is currently serving as the Director of Training and Leader Development, US Army Engineer School, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Dan entered the Army from the US Military Academy, as an Engineer officer, in 1988. He is a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne and Ranger Schools, the US Army Command and General Staff College, and the Senior Service College.

Colonel Larsen’s previous assignments include: Engineer Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Adjutant in the 249th Engineer Battalion (Germany); Company Commander, 44th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division (Korea); Company Engineer and Civil Affairs Team Leader, 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) (Fort Bragg, North Carolina); Battalion Civil Affairs Officer, 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (Germany); Observer-Controller/Trainer for the Reserve Component (Fort Lewis, Washington); Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Officer, US Army Pacific (Fort Shafter, Hawaii); Assistant Division Engineer and Battalion Executive Officer, 65th Engineer Battalion, 25th Infantry Division (Schofield Barracks, Hawaii); Deputy Director, Engineer Directorate, Combined Forces Command – Afghanistan; Battalion Commander, 169th Engineer Battalion (Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri); Division Engineer, 25th Infantry Division (Schofield Barracks and Iraq); and US Army Visiting Defence Fellow, Centre for International and Defence Policy, Queen’s University (Canada).

His operational deployments include: Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait); Operation Safe Haven (Panama); Operations Joint Guard and Joint Forge (Bosnia-Herzegovina); Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan); Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq); and deployment to El Salvador for Humanitarian/Civic Action operations.

Colonel Larsen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the US Military Academy and a Master of Science degree in National Security Affairs (Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict) from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Colonel Larsen is married to the former Huang Li-Fang, originally from Taiwan, and they have two daughters, Grace and Clare.

Col. Jaroslav Bieleny

Director, NATO EOD Centre of Excellence

Colonel Bielený is a native of Slovakia, Europe. In 1991, he graduated from the Military Academy in Brno, Czech Republic, earning a title Chartered Engineer in Construction and Machine Building. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Czech-Slovak Federal Republic Army Corps in August 1991, assigned to 13th Engineer Battalion, 13th Tank Division, Eastern Military District, Czech-Slovak Federal Republic Armed Forces in Sered. During this tour, Colonel Bielený served as an Engineer Platoon Leader, Engineer Company Commander, Battalion Technical Officer, Deputy Chief Logistics and Chief of Logistics/2IC Engineer Battalion. In 1994 he received an order to attend 4 months German Language Training in Bundessprachenamt in Huerth near Koeln am Main, Germany and then he carried out a 6 months internship in 801st Engineer Battalion, 80th Engineer Brigade, 13th Infantry Division, German Bundeswehr as a Battalion Technical Officer. In September 1997 he received an order to attend 11 months Battalion Commanders’ Course at Austrian Land Defense Academy in Vienna, Austria. In January 1999 he graduated from the Austrian Language Institute earning Diploma in German Language.

In September, 2000, Colonel Bielený transferred to the Slovak Verification Agency, Bratislava, where he served as a Senior Officer for verification of CFE Treaty and Ottawa Treaty for Land Mines and participated in Final Elimination of SS-23 rockets. In January 2001, he deployed to Suva Reka, Kosovo as Engineer and Liaison Officer, Slovak Engineer Contingent during NATO Operation in Kosovo.

In March 2002, Colonel Bielený was assigned to the Ministry of Defense, Organizational Department, Branch for Special Tasks as a Chief Senior Officer and in July 2002 he was assigned as Deputy Director, Supply and Support Bureau, Ministry of Defense.

In July 2004, Colonel Bielený was assigned to the NATO Standardization Agency, NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium as Senior Officer, Army Branch responsible for Combat Service Support Working Group with its Panels and Asset Tracking Working Group, Land Standardization Board.

In August, 2007, Colonel Bielený reported to the Slovak Land Forces Command in Trencin for duty as Deputy Chief of Logistic Department. On 15 March 2008 he took over the position of Chief of Logistics Department and was promoted to Colonel.

In July, 2009, Colonel Bielený was a distinguished graduate from the NATO Defense College, Roma, Italy and reported to the Slovak Land Forces Command for duty as Deputy Chief of Staff for Support.

In May, 2010, Colonel Bielený deployed for 13 months to ISAF Afghanistan and served as Deputy Chief CJ4 HQ ISAF. In June, 2011 he assumed command of NATO EOD Centre of Excellence in Trencin, Slovakia.

Colonel Bielený’s personal awards include the NATO Medals for Operation in Kosovo and Afghanistan, Honorable Medal of Minister of Defense 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade, Bronze and Silver Medal of Chief of General Staff SVK Armed Forces and Medal for Faith to Slovak Armed Forces 2nd and 3rd Grade.

Colonel Bielený is married to Monika. They have three sons – Tomas of age 13, Kristian of age 10 and Erik of age 8.

Colonel Bielený is fluent in English and German and he also speaks French and Russian

Col. (Ret’d) Ishfaq Hossain

Force Protection and Engineering , United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)

Commissioned Officer in Bangladesh Army Corps of Engineers in May 1977. Was Commander of Combat Engineer Battalion. Also conducted extensive Counter Insurgency operations along Border of Bangladesh, India and Myanmar. Was instructor in Engineer Military institute and Bangladesh Military Academy. As Lieutenant Colonel served in UNOMIG (Georgia) in 1999 – 2000 as Sector Commander operating with NGOs, evacuation of casualties, negotiations with Hostile Armed elements and successful hostage release management. As Colonel, was Chief Engineer Ministry of Health, Bangladesh Government for 2 years dealing with international contract, negotiation, budgeting and constructions. As a Colonel launched UNMIL (Liberia) mission in 2003 as Force Engineer; handling deployment of 15,000 Multinational troops, DDRR process, UXO disposal and other Combat Engineer related tasks for Peacekeeping. After 28 years of active service he took early retirement in the rank of Colonel to join United Nations in P-4 Professional Level. For more than 6 years serving as Professional Security Officer with United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). He is responsible for conducting Vulnerability Assessment, Security Risk Assessment; then developing threat mitigating measures of UN personnel, property and movement, for implementation at all UNAMI compounds throughout Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan. Colonel (Ret’d) Ishfaq is a graduate Civil Engineer. He is a Military Staff College graduate, did MBA and Masters of Defence Studies. He attended vast training in Combat Engineering, Infantry Weapons and Tactics. Attended World Bank Procurement Course at ILO Centre, Italy on Financing, Intl. Tendering, Contract, Negotiation, Budgeting and Consultants. Attended Combat Engineering Training in China, especially on Mines & Explosives; attended Corps Level Exercise with Pakistan Army in Desert Warfare. He also attended providing presentation and received training in: “Modern Peacekeeping” at Pearson’s Peacekeeping Centre, Canada (1998); NATO Force Protection Officers Course at NATO School, Germany (July 2009); Senior Engineer Leader Seminar at MILENG COE, Ingolstadt, Germany (December 2009); Military Engineering Conference, Brussels (January 2011).

Col. Gareth Bex OBE

Principal Ammunition Technical Officer, HQ Land British Army

Colonel Gareth Bex was commissioned into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1987 and initially served as a platoon commander with 6 Ordnance Battalion in Germany. He attended the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Applied Science. His early career included field force logistics and a number of Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO) appointments, including: EOD Trials and Development, two operational ATO tours as an IEDD Operator in Northern Ireland, OC Weapons Intelligence in Northern Ireland and an operational tour in Kosovo with Defence Intelligence. After Staff College, he served with HQ 3 (UK) Div as SO2 G1/G4 Ops/Plans, responsible for logistics and personnel, and deployed to set up the International Stabilisation Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2001. In 2003 he took command of 21 Brigade Support Squadron, affiliated to 1 Mechanized Brigade, taking the Squadron to Iraq on Op TELIC 4. Following this he became a desk officer in the Army Personnel Centre managing RLC Majors’ and then Brigadiers' appointments. On promotion to Lt Col he moved to the MOD where he was responsible for policy issues across the People, Organization and Information Lines of Development, supporting the Chief of the General Staff. He assumed command of 11 EOD Regiment RLC in Nov 08 and deployed to Afghanistan as CO of the first UK C-IED Task Force in Sep 09. Colonel Bex assumed his present appointment as the Principal Ammunition Technical Officer and Inspector of Explosives (Army) in the Army HQ in Mar 11.

Colonel Bex is married to Francesca, and has 2 children, Joshua and Sophie. His hobbies include mountain biking, hill walking, reading and house renovation.

Col. Manfred Reschke,

ACOS JEngr, RFOC Ulm

Born 1956, joined Bundeswehr in 1976 as a conscript in the Engineer service of the Army, continued service as an officer cadet and commissioned 1981. Finished Master of Business Science and Organisation in 983, thereafter several engineer appointments as platoon leader, company commander at battalion and brigade level, Joint Engineer in HQ AFCENT Operations Division, Battalion Commander of a heavy EngrBn, 2002 Head of Engineer and NBC Defence doctrine development department at the Army Office, 2004 Head of German Army Liaison Staff GBR 3 at HQ Engineer in Chief Minley GBR, 2007 Army Staff MoD Berlin as SO C-IED.

He has a wide operational and staff experience at different levels within NATO and EU, including preparing for UNISOM 1993, from 1994 to 1997 as Force Engineer Advisor to HQ AMF(L), 1997 IFOR 3 as DEU Chief Engineer, 1999 preparation of Kosovo campaign with HQ AFSOUTH J4, from 2007 as DEU Army Staff POC for C-IED at MoD level.

He became ACOS Joint Engineers in Response Forces Operations Command in July 2010. Despite 10 times moving home he is still happily married to his wife Martha for more than 34 years, both devoted long-distance runners in the tourist class, which means having finished and seen the town. They are proud parents of 3 and grand-parents of two. Place of living is Ulm.

Lt. Col. John Osborne

Deputy, Engineer Advocacy Branch, United States Marine Corps

Lt. Col. (GS) Mark Eigenheer

Chief CIMIC, G3/5/9 Branch, Staff Land Forces, Swiss Armed Forces

He was born in Zofingen (AG) the 19th February 1970. His military career as a Rescuer Soldier in the Swiss Armed Forces started in 1991. He had studied military science at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich from 1996-1999. Afterwards he had been engaged as regular officer at the recruit and NCO school command, officer school command and assistant to the chief training of the rescue troops. He commanded the Disaster Relief Battalion 2 from 2004 till 2007. In 2007 he started his post-graduate studies in Shrivenham at the Defence College of Management and Technology. He got graduation as Master of Science in Global Security in 2009. Since 2008 he is working as the Chief Civil-Military Cooperation within the Land Forces Staff in Bern. He gained international operational experiences after earthquakes in 2005/2009 in Sumatra and 2010 in Haiti, moreover in a domestic flood disaster in 2005.

Lt. Col. Bart Linsen

DACOS Engr/Plans, 1 DEU/NLD Corps

LtCol Linsen commenced his military career in August 1981. He has served mostly in the Engineer branch since then, in both command positions within construction units and with Battalion and Brigade staff. He holds a Master of Science (Radbout University Nijmegen), gained while serving as an internal Defence consultant in 2005.

In his latest appointment he was commander of a high qualified specialist team and advisor to the operational staff at MOD. LtCol Linsen commanded a construction team in Afghanistan during the deployment and building phase in 2007, and has completed five missions in the Balkans and Afghanistan.

Current he is the acting Chief Engineer at 1 DEU/NED HQ in Münster. The Engineer branch consists of 17 employees in the field of engineering, EOD,C-IED, CBRN and environment.

Lt. Col. Paul van der Heul

Commander - Construction Engineer Works, 101 Engineer Battalion, Royal Netherlands Army

Lt Col Paul van der Heul was born in Purmerend the Netherlands 8 May 1963. After finishing his secondary education in Amsterdam (1982) he joined the Army at the Royal Military Academy as an Engineer officer. As a subaltern officer he followed the regular pattern as platoon commander and so on and went on missions twice. First time to northern Iraq (1991 Provide Comfort) and the second time he went to Bosnia as battalion engineer advisor during the UPROFOR mission (1993-1994).

In 1996 he was promoted to Major and was responsible for advanced engineer training and education. In 2000 he went on mission as S3 of the Dutch Engineer Relief Battalion in Kosovo. After this he was appointed to command an armoured engineer company in Seedorf Germany. With this company he went to Iraq to support the SFIR mission (2004). An international appointment at the ARRC HQ in Rheindahlen followed where he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. During this period he served at the ISAF HQ in Kabul (2006).

While moving back to the Netherlands again Lt Col Paul van der Heul started his Masters in international water management at Wageningen University. From 2010 on he was appointed Commander Engineer Workforce. In this appointment he was responsible for all expeditionary infrastructure of the Dutch Armed Forces and he is the senior infrastructure advisor for operations at the MOD.

Lt Col Paul van der Heul is married and has three children. His likes reading, holidays, camping and sports especially skiing.

Lt. Col. Theo van Wijk

Concept Interoperability Branch Chief, NATO Military Engineering Centre of Excellence

NLD ARMY - ENGINEER CORPS OFFICER

Military career started 1977

Branch Chief Concept, Interoperability and Capability Branch since 2010.

Some a typical recent engineer employments besides the career positions. Section Chief of the Joint Effects Section at the JWC in Stavanger Norway Chief the Centre of Engineer Expertise in the Netherlands Teacher at the NDC (Netherlands Defence College)for some years

Missions Abroad: BOSNIA, IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, AFRICA, MONGOLIA

Lt. Col. Marc Bonnet

Concept Interoperability Capability Survivability Section, NATO Military Engineering Centre of Excellence

FRA ARMY - ENGINEER CORPS OFFICER

Staff officer of Concept, Interoperability and Capability Branch and Survivability Cell Chief since 2009.

Before, Deputy Chief of Staff of the FRA ENGINEER BRIGADE (2005-2009) Strasbourg. Deputy Commander of a Battalion in NEW CALEDONIA (2003-2005).

Environmental Protection Knowledge:

MILENG COE Briefer of Environmental Protection issues in In-house courses and of Military Engineering issues in EP courses of NATO School Oberammergau.

Member of the NATO Joint Environmental Protection Management Group since 2009.

Missions Abroad: BOSNIA – KOSOSVO

SGM(R) Rodger Moore

Vice President of Canine Operations, K2 Solutions Inc.

Mr. Moore is a retired United States Army Special Forces Sergeant Major with 26 years of leadership and service. He has exceptional experience in all areas of Special Operations, including counter-terrorism, surveillance, security assessment, sniper marksmanship, and small unit tactics and training.

Currently, Mr. Moore is the Vice President of Canine Operations at K2 Solutions, Inc. where he provides oversight of over 200 Managers, Trainers, Kennel Staff, and Support personnel. K2’s customers include the United States Marine Corps, Army, Navy, and United Kingdom Ministry of Defense. Additionally, he oversees the sale of canines to local, county, and state law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Jake McQueen

Sales Manager, Hesco Bastion Ltd

Jake McQueen is Sales Manager for HESCO Bastion Ltd.

Previously he was Product Manager at HESCO for seven years.

Before joining HESCO, Jake served in the Royal Engineers for 24 years, and achieved the rank of WO1 Sgt Major Instructor. He has experience in Combat, EOD and Plant & Construction.

Mr. Sascha Balduhn

Project Manager, Division Combat Systems - Military Bridges, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG

Mr. Balduhn is currently serving as a Project manager of the LEGUAN LEOPARD 2 Bridge System at Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Company. He graduated in civil engineering at the University of the German Army, Munich, Germany. During his 12 years’ experience as an officer of the German Army, he was assigned in engineer leadership positions ranging from Lieutenant to Captain with abroad missions in Bosnia and Afghanistan.

Mr. Chad W. Bixby

Marketing & Contracts Manager, Catepillar Defense & Federal Products

Chad is a graduate of the United States Military Academy with a BS in Environmental Engineering & Master of Business Administration from Oklahoma City University. He has worked at Caterpillar for the last fifteen years in various machine and power system marketing and sales roles. Currently, he leads a team responsible for the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program, the United Nations Account, and consultation with the worldwide Cat Dealer network on defense sales of Cat machines. Additionally, his team works with the United States Federal Civilian Agencies for their equipment needs. Prior to joining Caterpillar, Chad spent two and a half years as an Army Personnel Officer. Chad's Army experience included leadership positions ranging from Executive Officer roles to Assistant G-1 for III Corps Artillery.

Mr. James Hare

Account Manager, Catepillar Defense & Federal Products

Jamie is a graduate of the United States Military Academy with a BS in Mechanical Engineering & MS Engineering Management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He has worked at Caterpillar for the last three years as a U.S. Army Account Manager and Global Military Sales Account Manager. He currently has responsibility for the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program, the United Nations Account, and consultation with the worldwide Cat Dealer network on defense sales of Cat machines. Prior to joining Caterpillar, Jamie spent six years as an Army Engineer Officer. Jamie’s Army experience includes engineer leadership positions ranging from Platoon Leader during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, to Company Executive Officer and Battalion Maintenance Officer in Iraq in 2005-2006, and Observer Controller/Trainer.