Highest-ranking soldier
First paragraph of the articleHighest-ranking soldier
The Chief of Defence, Eberhard Zorn, is responsible for the overall military defence concept, including planning and further development, for command and control in the armed forces and for the planning, preparation, conduct and assessment of Bundeswehr operations. The Directors-General for Planning, for Forces Policy and for Strategy and Operations report to him.
As the highest-ranking soldier, the Chief of Defence has full command of the armed forces. He is thus authorised to establish binding principles for all Bundeswehr soldiers, regardless of their responsibility for a specific service. The Vice Chief of Defence, who is also the Bundeswehr Commissioner for Reserve Affairs, assists the Chief of Defence in the discharge of his functions.
born in Saarbrücken on 19 February 1960, married
Military Career
Zeitraum | Ereignis/Tätigkeit |
|---|---|
1978 | Entry into the Bundeswehr at the Artillery School in IDAR-OBERSTEIN |
1979-1983 | Artillery Officer Training and Course of Study in Economics and Organizational Sciences at the Bundeswehr University HAMBURG |
1983-1987 | Assignments as Platoon Leader and Intelligence Officer (S 2), Observation Battalion 103 (Beobachtungsbataillon 103) PFULLENDORF |
1987-1990 | Commander, 3rd Battery, Observation Battalion 123, TAUBERBISCHOFSHEIM |
1990-1991 | Fire Control and Operations and Training Officer (S 3), Headquarters Artillery Regiment 12, TAUBERBISCHOFSHEIM |
1991-1993 | Attendance of the 34th General Staff Officer Course at the Bundeswehr Command and Staff College in HAMBURG |
1993-1995 | Attendance of the French General Staff Officer Course (CSEM/CID) in PARIS |
1995-1997 | Assignments at KLK/4th Division in REGENSBURG as
|
1997-1999 | Operations and Personnel Staff Officer (G 1 Op), German Army Forces Command, KOBLENZ |
1999-2001 | Commander, Field Artillery/ Armored Artillery Battalion 295 (Feld- und Panzerartilleriebataillon 295), IMMENDINGEN; deployment abroad as Operations and Training Staff Officer (G 3), HQHeadquarter Multinational Division South-East, MOSTAR, SFOR |
2001-2002 | Assistant Chief of Branch at the Federal Ministry of Defense, Personnel, Social Services and Central Affairs (PSZ IV 4) Directorate, BONN |
2002-2004 | Assistant Chief of Branch Personnel, PSZ I 4, BONN |
2004-2005 | Branch Chief Plans/Operations/Organization (G 3) at HQHeadquarter German Army Forces Command, KOBLENZ |
2005-2007 | ACOS Plans/Operations/Organization (G 3) at German Army Forces Command, KOBLENZ |
2007-2009 | Branch Chief Army Staff I 1 (Personnel Policy Matters/Leadership Development and Civic Education), Federal Ministry of Defense, BONN |
2009-2010 | Branch Chief Army Staff Z (Central Tasks), Federal Ministry of Defense, BONN |
2010-2012 | Commander of Airborne Brigade 26 "Saarland", SAARLOUIS |
2012-2014 | Head of Personal Staff to Chief of Defence, BERLIN |
2014-2015 | Commander, Rapid Response Forces Division (DSKDivision Schnelle Kräfte), STADTALLENDORF |
2015-2017 | Director Forces Policy, Ministry of Defence, BERLIN |
2017-2018 | Director-General for Personnel, Ministry of Defence, BERLIN |
| Since 19th April 2018 | 16. Chief of Defence |