Member of the German Bundestag
since 2025; Federal Minister of Defense since 2023

2017–2023 Member of the Lower Saxony State Parliament

2013–2023 Minister of the Interior and Sports of Lower Saxony

2006–2013 Mayor of the City of Osnabrück

2002–2006 Head of the “Schools and Sports” Department of the Weser-Ems District Government, Osnabrück Branch

1999–2002 Second Mayor of the City of Osnabrück (Deputy to the Mayor)

1997–2002 Head of various departments at the Weser-Ems District Administration, Osnabrück branch

1995–1996 Deputy Head of Minister Glogowski’s Office

1991–1995 Personal Advisor to Lower Saxony’s Minister of the Interior, Gerhard Glogowski

1991 Assistant to the District Government of Weser-Ems
1990 Practiced as a lawyer

1987–1990 Legal clerkship and second state examination

1987 First State Examination

1982–1983 Studied French at the Université Catholique de l’Ouest, Angers, France

1981–1987 Studied law at the Universities of Osnabrück and Münster

1980–1981 Military service

1980 Commercial clerk

1978–1980 Training as a wholesale and foreign trade clerk

1978 High school graduation in Osnabrück

14. March 1960 Born in Osnabrück