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.

Responsibilities 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 Equipment (including international armaments policy), for Planning, for Legal Affairs, for Budget and Controlling and for Infrastructure, Environmental Protection and Services. He represents the Minister of Defence in the relevant committees of the German Bundestag, particularly in the Budget Committee and the Committee on Public Accounts.

Until the end of the current legislative period, Thomas Silberhorn will also take on the responsibilities of the second Parliamentary State Secretary, i.e. parliamentary and political tasks relating to the work of the Directorates-General for Security and Defence Policy, for Cyber and Information Technology, for Forces Policy, for Strategy and Operations and for Personnel. He will represent the Minister of Defence in the relevant committees of the German Bundestag, i.e. in the Defence Committee, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Defence Working Group.

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.

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.