After his career in Belgian defence and NATO, Mr BLOKKEN became Director of the Finabel HQ in 2016. In this position, he is the organisation's international representative. He works very closely with the Land Force Commanders of Finabel's 25 EU Member States to harmonise doctrines and improve interoperability. Based on official cooperation agreements, he also contributes to the bilateral knowledge-sharing platforms with the European Military Staff and the European Defence Agency.

As a senior Cyber and Artificial Intelligence specialist, he provides guidance and recommendations to several EU bodies.

He directs the new land force innovation hub within the European land force environment where information sharing and future European cooperation between land force innovation cells will be realised.

He is a permanent member of the NATO Land Operations Working Group and, as an SME, has a chair in the EU Land Defence Industrial Group. He provides ad hoc briefings to the European Union Military Committee.

Mr Blokken is married and has one daughter, Valérie.