Highest-ranking soldier
Detailseite:Highest-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
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