Lieutenant Colonel
Isaiah
Oppelaar
Joint Air Power Competence Centre (2021-2023)
Lieutenant Colonel Oppelaar is a command pilot in the KC-135R/T from the United States with more than 130 combat missions supporting Operations Inherent Resolve, Freedom Sentinel, Spartan Shield, New Dawn, and NATO Operation Unified Protector. He is the Air Mobility Strategist at the Joint Air Power Competence Centre in Kalkar, Germany. In this role, he executes the JAPCC programme of work for air mobility, including leading the global Air-to-Air Refuelling interoperability and compatibility efforts, supporting NATO Allied Air Command’s Specialized Heavy Air Refuelling Course (SHARC), and supporting the Military Committee Air Standardization Board as the Chairman of the Air-to-Air Refuelling Working Group.
Information provided is current as of October 2023
From the Author
Agile Combat Employment
The Next Big Thing for NATO Air Power
By Lt Col
Isaiah
Oppelaar
The concept of Agile Combat Employment (ACE) may not be entirely new nor radical, but the complexities of modern warfare necessitate a number of modifications resulting in a more nuanced and innovative approach. Defined by [...]
Organizing Logistics for Future Collective Defence
By Lt Col
Isaiah
Oppelaar
Logistics is the cornerstone of all NATO operations but is often a secondary planning discussion after the staff plans the execution portion of an operation. According to NATO doctrine (AJP-5), ‘Logistics frequently shapes the design [...]
NATO’s Multinational MRTT Unit
An Update and Case Study for Future Defence Cooperation
By Lt Col
Isaiah
Oppelaar
In the 32 Since publishing, a number of developments within NATO’s Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) mission set warrants revisiting this topic. This article will provide a brief review of the formation of the MMU, update on the [...]
