Defense Minister Pistorius Rears a New Leadership in the Ministry of Defense
Defense Minister Pistorius secures another State Secretary appointment
With a shifting landscape, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius takes a leap, hiring two new State Secretaries - Jan Stoess and Jens Plötner - to assist him in his remodeled Ministry. The move was agreed upon with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, following his recent endorsement for a hiring freeze.
The Ministry of Defense prepares for a transformation, expanding to expand its ranks. This expansion will see Jan Stoess, a 51-year-old lawyer, taking the position of the third State Secretary. Previously, Stoess served as head of the Department of Law and Organization within the ministry.
In addition, Jens Plötner, who was a foreign policy advisor to Olaf Scholz, will now hold the position of State Secretary for Armament and Innovation. He replaces Benedikt Zimmer in this role. Plötner’s appointment aims to speed up procurement and advance significant European armaments projects.
Stoess arrived at the Ministry of Defense following political stints in Berlin Senate Administration and Bremen. The ministry justifies Stoess's appointment in light of the changed security policy landscape, facing an increase in tasks and time pressure. Jan Stoess rose through the Berlin SPD ranks from 2012 to 2016, eventually being outstripped by Michael Müller before moving to the Ministry of Defense.
After pledging a hiring freeze in the public sector last fall, Merz appeared to revise his stance, recently employing more top positions in Germany than under the traffic light government.
Sources: ntv.de, gho/dpa
Additional Insights:
- State Secretaries in the German Ministry of Defense serve as high-ranking officials who support the Minister in various aspects of defense policy, strategic planning, procurement, and personnel management. They are also responsible for overseeing specific areas, such as procurement, strategy, and international relations.
- Defense Minister Boris Pistorius faces challenges in meeting his recruitment goals, aiming to increase the number of active-duty troops to 203,000 by 2031. This is a significant increase from the current approximately 181,500. The focus on voluntary service is being considered alongside the potential for conscription if targets are not met.
- For additional information on specific individuals like Jan Stoess and Jens Plötner, it is recommended to consult official government announcements or press releases from the German Ministry of Defense.
The Defense Ministry, under the leadership of Minister Boris Pistorius, has added two State Secretaries to its ranks: Jan Stoess, a former head of the Department of Law and Organization, and Jens Plötner, a foreign policy advisor. Jan Stoess, aged 51, will serve as the third State Secretary, focusing on the changed security policy landscape. On the other hand, Jens Plötner will hold the position of State Secretary for Armament and Innovation, with the aim of expediting procurement and advancing European armaments projects. This appointment follows Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent endorsement, even though he had previously imposed a hiring freeze.
