Thibauld Jongen appointed EASA Certification Director

COLOGNE, April 30, 2026 - Thibauld Jongen has been appointed Certification Director for the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, effective from June 1, 2026.

The Certification Directorate is responsible for EASA certifications of all aircraft, as well as validations of certifications by authorities in other countries that hold a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement with the European Union.   

Jongen brings over 25 years’ experience of leading innovation across high-impact sectors, including manufacturing, aerospace, defence, and AI-powered robotics.

EASA’s Executive Director, Florian Guillermet said: “Thibauld’s experience in the aeronautics industry, combined with his knowledge of cutting-edge technology, and his scientific and technical background make him a strong addition to our leadership team. He understands the challenges in driving technology forward in safety related environment and is determined to deliver.”

Thibauld Jongen said: “We stand at a turning point in aviation where structural transformations, new territories, and blurred boundaries are reshaping the industry. The convergence between manned and unmanned aviation, the increasing overlap between military and civil ecosystems, the rise of autonomy and data-driven methods, the emergence of new propulsion and energy sources, and the arrival of new platform families all present challenges to which EASA must adapt, and take the lead in upholding safety. I am honoured to contribute to EASA’s continued leadership in certification, environmental protection, technological progress, and international collaboration for European competitiveness.”

The Certification Directorate is the largest at the Agency, comprising around 270 of the Agency’s circa 820 staff.

Alain Leroy, EASA’s Chief Engineer and Safety Adviser, has also been Acting Certification Director since the start of 2026. Leroy, who joined EASA in a management position in certification in 2004, will retire from EASA on June 30 after 22 years with the Agency.  

Biography – Thibauld Jongen

Thibauld Jongen will join EASA as its Certification Director with effect from June 1, 2026.

He is currently the CEO of Common Sense Robotics, a company he co-founded in 2023, which develops intelligent robots to enable reliable automation of manual work in the manufacturing industry.

Prior to this, he served as CEO of Sabca Group, where he led a full strategic transformation of this major Belgian aerospace and defence company into a modern innovation-driven player, developing a new product portfolio and ensuring sustainable growth. He also held the role of Managing Director of Safran Test Cells, a Safran Group business unit specializing in the design of aeroengine test facilities worldwide.

As an entrepreneur, he is strongly committed to ensuring that innovation in Europe translates into tangible industrial and societal impact. He advocates for strengthening and repatriating industrial capabilities through technology, as a foundation for preserving European values and autonomy.

His academic background combines an engineering degree in applied mathematics, a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, a master’s in fluid mechanics, and a PhD in computational science—reflecting his ongoing effort to connect technical excellence with broader human and societal perspectives. He has worked and studied in Belgium, the Netherlands, the United States, and Switzerland, and has served on numerous boards, including ADRA (the European AI, Data, and Robotics Association) and Arianespace.

He brings a combination of leadership, strong technical grounding, multicultural experience, and strategic foresight. He is frequently invited to contribute to think tanks and public forums, where he engages with a wide range of stakeholders and topics, from competitiveness in aerospace & defence and system integration with roboticists, to manufacturing strategy with industrialists and policy relevance with public sector partners.