Fernand “Ferre” Van Wilder was born on 30 June 1964 in Deurne, Belgium. He joined the Royal School of Cadets in 1979 and the Royal Military School in 1982 where he graduated with a master’s degree in aeronautical science in 1986.

He started as Supply Squadron Commander, after which he performed a variety of jobs in the Tactical Headquarters, the Air Force Staff and Joint Staff.

In 2005, he completed a master’s degree in Strategic Studies at Air War College, in Montgomery Alabama, USA.

In 2007, he became the Belgian Air Force F-16 programme manager in the Systems Programme Office at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, USA.

In 2010, he switched from a US fighter programme to a European transport programme, becoming the A400M Logistic Support Officer at the OCCAR A400M Programme Division in Toulouse, France.

He returned to Belgium in 2015 to become the project manager for the implementation of the A400M in the Belgian armed forces.

In 2017, he retired from the Belgian Air Force. After a 4 year sabbatical he returned in 2021 to OCCAR to become the Business Development Officer in Bonn, Germany.

He is married to Rolande Wolput, has a stepson, two grandchildren and two dogs.