After more than two and a half years, Dieter Kandlhofer is leaving the Ministry of Defense, thus ending his role as Secretary General. Leaving the department and moving to the private sector was a personal and voluntary decision for Kandlhofer.
On July 1, Arnold Kammel, Director General for Defense Policy, will take over the function of Secretary General. Kammel is already Deputy Secretary General and at the same time Head of Cabinet of the BMLV. The appointment of the Head of Cabinet and the Chief of Staff of the Federal Minister have already been made. Roman Markhart, who as Deputy Head of Cabinet has in the meantime taken on the role of Head of Office of GECKO and most recently moved to the Federal Chancellor’s Cabinet, will now return as Head of Cabinet. Major General Friedrich Schrötter, an expert in the operational command of the Austrian Armed Forces at home and abroad, will remain Chief of Staff.
“After more than two and a half years of intensive work at my side and in my cabinet, Dieter Kandlhofer will be leaving us for the private sector at the end of the month. He has made a significant contribution to our success through his tremendous personal commitment and hard work, and I would like to thank him warmly for this commitment and wish him all the best and every happiness and success for his new career start,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner, officially confirming the departure of the Secretary General and the new appointments to the cabinet of the Ministry of Defense. “Thanks to Dieter Kandlhofer’s commitment and together as a team, we were able to come closer to our goal of moving the Austrian Armed Forces into the ‘center of society’. With the completion of the reorganization of the central office and the top management level of the Federal Ministry of Defence, we have brought one of the most challenging and far-reaching projects of the department to a positive conclusion. And I would also like to thank you for this achievement.”
“This is the perfect time for me to say goodbye. I have been able to make a difference in my career so far and I have also achieved a lot, such as implementing the reorganization of the central office and top management level of the Federal Ministry of Defence. After these varied, demanding and enjoyable years, I will take a period of rest and orientation and then devote myself to new and exciting challenges,” says Dieter Kandlhofer. “I would also like to thank Federal Minister Klaudia Tanner, the first female Minister of Defense of the Republic of Austria, for the excellent cooperation. I have also had the opportunity to work with some really special people over the last few decades and would like to take this opportunity to thank my many supporters, superiors, companions and all employees and wish them all the best.”
