Colonel Joris Van Belle was born on November 26, 1969 in Dendermonde (Belgium). After his studies Latin-Mathematics at the Royal School of Cadets in Brussels, he joined the 142th Promotion Polytechnics at the Royal Military Academy where he graduated as MSc Aeronautical Engineering with distinction.
He joined the Air Force at Kleine-Brogel AFB where he took the lead of several maintenance flights from January '93 until June '97. Multiple deployments and exercises developed his sense for international cooperation, with other F-16 users as well as with industry.
In 1997, he moved to the Air Staff to manage fleet-wide modification programs and the acquisition of aircraft systems, in support of the depot level maintenance program.
In August '01 Capt Van Belle was promoted to the Training Aircraft and UAV bureau, where he coordinated the introduction of the B-Hunter UAV systems in the Belgian Defence. At the same period, he was the Belgian member in the Advanced European Jet Pilot Training (AEJPT) working groups.
After his Junior Staff Course and an operational assignment at the 15th Transport Wing, where he was responsible for the organizatian of the Operations and Deployments of the transport fleet, he followed the Higher Staff Course.
Major Van Belle then became the National Program Coordinator A400M, during the renegotiations of the contract between Airbus Military, OCCAR and the participating nations.
In 2010, he became responsible for the technical and logistical management of the transport fleet of Belgian Defence. Also during this period, he continued to supervise the A400M contract and participated actively in the MRTT project that started through the EDA.
From July 2013 to August 2016 LtCol Van Belle became the Commanding Officer of the Maintenance Group of the 15th Transport Wing, commanding and motivating some 500 technicians and support personnel in maintaining the transport fleet all around the world.
In September 2016, he was appointed as the Change Manager for all projects implementing the Strategic Vision (outsourcing, moves of units, closing of quarters) at the Human Resources Department. During this assignment, he also attended the Belgian High Studies for Security and Defense (session 2017-2018).
Promoted Colonel in 2017, he became Head of Governance Support in 2019, in direct support of the Chief of Defence.
Finally, in August 2022, he became Belgian National Military Representative at SHAPE.
Colonel Joris Van Belle is married to Ilse Top for more than 25 years and is the proud father of Ward (23), Dries (21) and Silke (18). They live in Aalst, between Brussels and Gent.