The General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) protects national security and the democratic constitutional order. This is more necessary than ever, as the world around us is changing rapidly. Geopolitical tensions are increasing, cyberattacks affect vital infrastructures, foreign interference undermines open societies, extremist ideologies take new forms, and technology develops faster than laws and regulations can keep up with.
Therefore, the AIVD is developing both substantively and technologically and the organization is growing in size. The Director-General, as head of the organization, provides direction to this development. The DG AIVD strengthens the strategic and operational capabilities of the service and ensures that the organization remains technologically ahead. The DG AIVD does this in collaboration with the management team. Attention is also given to supporting processes, infrastructure, and associated conditions necessary for the AIVD to perform its work. Nationally, the DG AIVD works closely with public and private security partners and maintains contacts with intelligence and security services internationally.
Drs. Simone Smit has been Deputy Director-General of the AIVD since February 15, 2021. Prior to that, she was Director of Counterterrorism and Program Director for the Acute Covid Approach at the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV). She started at the NCTV in 2014 as Head of Protection and Security. She began her career as an operational leader at the police in Rotterdam. Simone Smit earned a masters degree in Public Administration from Erasmus University Rotterdam and attended the Police Academy.
The appointment was made through the procedure for the top management group of the General Public Service.
