To anticipate and respond effectively to future needs and developments, NLR is establishing a new Strategy & Policy department. Smit will head this department and, in this new role, will also join NLR’s Management team.
CEO Tineke van der Veen: “‘The Executive Committee sees this appointment as an important step in NLR’s continued development, bringing together strategic responsibilities and policy expertise to create greater alignment, impact and focus. With Egbert’s knowledge and experience, we are confident that he will make a valuable contribution to the future of our innovative applied research organisation and further strengthen our relationships with strategic partners.”
After nine years with the Royal Netherlands Navy, Egbert began his career at NLR in 1992 as a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer. In the years that followed, he held various positions, including programme manager for flight test programs and Business Development Manager for the Aerospace Vehicles division. He spent several years in a Customer Funded Position at Lockheed Martin in the US before returning to the Netherlands in 2021 as Director Strategy – Defence, where he was responsible for NLR’s strategic positioning within the national and international defense ecosystem.
Egbert Smit, NLR’s new Executive Director Strategy & Policy, said: “I have spent most of my career at NLR, working in a variety of roles. This experience has given me a deep understanding of the organisation’s strengths, culture and technical expertise. It has also enabled me to contribute to knowledge development, innovation and collaboration with partners in the Netherlands and internationally. In my new role, I look forward to building on this experience and making an even greater contribution. Strategy is a process of continuous improvement, and its value becomes tangible when it translates into clear priorities, ownership and measurable progress across defence, space and civil aviation.”
Strategy & Policy Department
Establishing a Strategy & Policy department is a key step in making the NLR organisation future-proof. By consolidating strategic roles and policy expertise, it creates greater coherence and focus, thereby enhancing NLR’s operational strength.
