Highest-ranking soldier Date of publication May 7, 2018

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

01.07.1978
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

• G4 and Chief of Materiel Management Section
• Deployment abroad as ACOS Logistics (G 4), German Army Contingent UNPF/GECONIFOR(L), 1st Contingent, TROGIR
• Operations and Training Staff Officer (G 3) and Chief of Administrative
• Control Section

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), HQ 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 HQ 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 (DSK), STADTALLENDORF

2015 – 2017

Director Forces Policy, Ministry of Defence, BERLIN

2017 – 2018

Director-General for Personnel, Ministry of Defence, BERLIN

Seit 19. April 2018
16. Generalinspekteur der Bundeswehr