Education
King"s College School.
King"s College School.
Educated at King"s College School and Magdalen College, Oxford, Van der Veen joined the Royal Air Force in 1963. He became Officer Commanding the Engineering Wing at Royal Air Force Brawdy in 1980, Engineering Inspector of Flight Safety at the Ministry of Defence in 1982 and Director of Defence Studies (Royal Air Force) in 1985. He went on to be Station Commander at Royal Air Force Cosford in 1989, Director of Support Policy (Royal Air Force) in 1991 and Station Commander at Royal Air Force Street Athan in 1994.
After that he became Commandant of the Royal Air Force Staff College, Bracknell in 1996 and Director-General of Support Management in 1997 before retiring in 1999.
In retirement Van der Veen became bursar of Balliol College, Oxford.