The State Secretaries

The State Secretaries represent the Minister in their areas of responsibility, which are defined in the additional stipulations of the Federal Minister of Defence. They must ensure that tasks of the Federal Ministry of Defence are carried out as efficiently as possible.

Assistance by the Parliamentary State Secretaries

Parliamentary State Secretary Silberhorn supports the Minister of Defence in parliamentary and political tasks relating to the work of the Directorates-General for Security and Defence Policy, for Planning, for Forces Policy, for Strategy and Operations, and for Budget and Controlling. He represents the Minister of Defence in the relevant committees of the German Bundestag, particularly in the Budget Committee.

Parliamentary State Secretary Tauber supports the Minister of Defence in parliamentary and political tasks relating to the work of the Directorates-General for Equipment, for Cyber and Information Technology, for Legal Affairs, for Personnel, and for Infrastructure, Environmental Protection and Services. He represents the Minister of Defence in the relevant committees of the German Bundestag, particularly in the Defence Committee.

Responsibilities of the Permanent State Secretaries

The Directors-General for Equipment and for Cyber and Information Technology both report directly to State Secretary Benedikt Zimmer. Dr Suder is also responsible for the Directorate‑General for Planning. In this area of responsibility she is the direct superior of the Chief of Defence, to whom the Director-General of Planning reports directly.

The Chief of Defence

The Directors-General for Budget and Controlling, for Legal Affairs, for Personnel, and for Infrastructure, Environmental Protection and Services as well as the Organisation and Internal Audit Staff all report to State Secretary Hoofe.

In addition to the Directorate-General for Planning, the Chief of Defence is also responsible for the Directorates-General for Forces Policy and for Strategy and Operations.