Senior staff officers
In the Swiss Armed Forces, officers holding the rank of brigadier general, major general and lieutenant general are considered senior staff officers. They are employed by the Swiss Confederation as career officers. In the event of a large-scale mobilisation, the United Federal Assembly appoints a commander in chief with the rank of general. Senior staff officers occupy key roles in the military command and central staff.
Lieutenant General Thomas Süssli
Chief of the Armed Forces
Lieutenant General Sussli is responsible for the leadership and the development of the Swiss Armed Forces. He heads the Department’s defence sector and is directly subordinated to the head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), Federal Councillor Martin Pfister.
Under his command as Chief of the Armed Forces are the Armed Forces Staff, Joint Operations Command, the Armed Forces Logistics Organisation, the Cyber Command and the Training and Education Command.
Lieutenant General Hans-Peter Walser
Chief of Training and Education Command / Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces
Lieutenant General Walser heads the Training and Education Command. He is responsible for the basic readiness and the training of the armed forces. As a member of Armed Forces Command and Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces, he is directly accountable to the Chief of the Armed Forces.
As Chief of Training and Education Command, he also has overall responsibility for the Armed Forces Training Centre Command, the infantry, engineer/rescue and NBC, and armour/artillery and logistics training units, the Armed Forces College, the Armed Forces Personnel and the Women in the Armed Forces and Diversity Office.
Lieutenant General Laurent Michaud
Chief of Joint Operations Command
Lieutenant General Michaud heads the Joint Operations Command, which continuously anticipates potential developments and guarantees the armed forces’ readiness appropriate to the situation. He is responsible for planning and commanding all operations and missions of the armed forces, and for the basic and operational readiness of his subordinate staffs and units. As a member of Armed Forces Command, he is directly accountable to the Chief of the Armed Forces.
The Military Intelligence Service/Armed Forces Preventive Protection Service, one mechanised divi-sion (Land Forces), four territorial divisions, the Military Police Command, the Air Force, the Armed Forces International Command SWISSINT and the Special Forces Command are all assigned to Lieutenant General Michaud, the Chief of Joint Operations Command.
Index
Major General Willy Brülisauer
Commander Territorial Division 4
Major General Brülisauer commands the Territorial Division 4. He is responsible for civil affairs support in exceptional situations and is directly accountable to the Chief of Joint Operations Command. The Territorial Division 4 comprises the cantons of Appenzell-Innerrhoden, Appenzell-Ausserrhoden, Glarus, St. Gallen, Schaffhausen, Thurgau and Zurich.
The Commander Territorial Division 4 is in charge of one command support battalion, four infantry battalions, one engineer battalion and one rescue battalion.
Major General Ivo Burgener
Head of Swiss NNSC Delegation
Major General Burgener is head of the Swiss delegation to the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) in Panmunjom, Korea. He is responsible for carrying out the tasks defined by the ceasefire agreement. On political matters he reports to the Political Affairs Division II of the FDFA and, on military and support matters, to the Joint Operations Command, via Swiss Armed Forces International Command (SWISSINT).
Major General Stephan Christen
Deputy Chief of Joint Operations Command
Major General Christen is the deputy of the Chief of Joint Operations Command.
He is in charge of the Joint Operations Command's Human Resources, Finance, Planning/ Controlling/ Steering sectors, Armed Forces and Management Development, and the Joint Operations Command's doctrine. He is supported by the Chief of Operations and Career Management of the Training and Education Command in assignments and career management matters, and by the head of the Joint Operations Command's real estate supply coordination service in real estate matters. Furthermore, he is responsible for the training of the Chief of Joint Operations Command's direct subordinates.
Major General Maurizio Dattrino
Commander Territorial Division 3
Major General Dattrino commands Territorial Division 3. He is responsible for civil affairs support in exceptional situations and is directly accountable to the Chief of Joint Operations Command. The Territorial Division 3 comprises the cantons of the Grisons, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri and Zug.
The Commander Territorial Division 3 is in charge of one command support battalion, four infantry battalions, one engineer battalion and one rescue battalion.
Major General Raynald Droz
Commander Territorial Division 1
Major General Droz commands the Territorial Division 1. He is responsible for civil affairs support in exceptional situations and is directly accountable to the Chief of Joint Operations Command. The Territorial Division 1 comprises the cantons of Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Jura, Neuenburg, Vaud and the Valais.
Major General Patrick Gauchat
Head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission UNTSO
Major General Patrick Gauchat is the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation). Appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Mr Gauchat is responsible for carrying out tasks defined by the Security Council within the framework of the Middle East ceasefire agreements. He reports to the UN Secretary-General through the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
Major General Daniel Keller
Chief of Armed Forces Staff
As Chief of Armed Forces Staff, Major General Keller manages the most important business interests in the defence sector and is directly accountable to the Chief of the Armed Forces. He is responsible for the operational implementation of the political and military strategic directives and operational instructions. Working at the interface between politico-strategic and operational-tactical levels, he is in charge of development, planning, resource allocation and steering of the armed forces.
Major General Alexander Kohli
Commander Territorial Division 2
Major General Kohli commands Territorial Division 2. He is responsible for civil affairs support in exceptional situations and is directly accountable to the Chief of Joint Operations Command. The Territorial Division 2 comprises the cantons of Lucerne, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Solothurn, Basel City, Basel Land and Aarau. The Commander Territorial Division 2 is in charge of one command support battalion, four infantry battalions, one engineer battalion and one rescue battalion.
Major General Simon Müller
Chief of Cyber Command
Major General Müller is the Chief of Cyber Command. As a member of the Armed Forces Command, he reports directly to the Chief of the Armed Forces.
The Cyber Command is responsible for mission-critical ICT and the provision of services in cyber and electromagnetic space.
Major General Oppliger Christian
Commander of the Swiss Air Force
Major General Oppliger is commander of the Swiss Air Force. His responsibilities include the basic and operational readiness and the training and deployment of the Swiss Air Force. He reports directly to the Chief of Joint Operations Command.
He is in command of the Air Force Brigade, the Ground-based Air Defence Brigade, the Air Operations Centre, the Air Base Commands, the Aeromedical Centre and the Space Competence Centre. Major General Oppliger is also responsible for developing capabilities within the air operational domain
Major General Benedikt Roos
Commander Land Forces
Major General Roos commands the land forces. He is responsible for the basic and operational readiness of the staffs, brigades and units placed under his command, and reports directly to the Chief of Joint Operations Command.
He is in charge of the land forces command battalion, the command, control and technical systems centre unit, and three mechanised brigades. Major General Roos is also responsible for the land forces' sphere of operations.
Major General Marco Schmidlin
Defence Attaché in Washington
Major General Schmidlin is the defence attaché at the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington. He safeguards Switzerland’s security policy and armed forces interests in the United States of America and in Canada. He is accountable to the Head of International Relations Defence in the Armed Forces Staff.
Major General Germaine J.F. Seewer
Head of International Relations Defence
Major General Seewer is Head of International Relations Defence in the Armed Forces Staff. She directs and coordinates armed forces relations at both bilateral and international levels.
The Head of International Relations Defence is responsible for establishing the politico-military and legal conditions for training cooperation of the armed forces abroad, for international missions, and for relations with other armed forces. In addition, she is responsible for verification measures in Switzerland and abroad. She is also in charge of the Swiss defence attachés abroad and the Military Protocol.
Major General Rolf André Siegenthaler
Head of Armed Forces Logistics Organisation
Major General Siegenthaler commands the Armed Forces Logistics Organisation. He is responsible for all logistics services for the benefit of the Headquarters, the Armed Forces and the Command Support Organisation. He reports directly to the Chief of the Armed Forces.
The Head of the Armed Forces Logistics Organisation is responsible for the Staff unit, the Logistics management, the Logistics Brigade 1, the five Armed forces logistics centres, the Armed forces pharmacy as well as the Military medical service and the Support services units.
Major General Andreas Stettbacher
Surgeon General
Major General Stettbacher is Surgeon General of the Swiss Armed Forces.
He is in charge of the military health service, directs the medical sector in the Armed Forces Logistics Organisation and is head of the Centre of Competence for Military and Disaster Medicine. In addition, the Surgeon General supervises the Aeromedical Institute and medical support of the professional special forces. Organisationally, he is assigned to the Head of Armed Forces Logistics Organisation.
Major General Melchior Albrecht Stoller
Personal Adviser for Politico-Military Affairs to the Head of the DDPS
Major General Stoller is Adviser for Politico-Military Affairs to the Head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS. He answers directly to the Head of the Department; militarily, he is assigned to the Armed Forces Staff.
Major General Alain Vuitel
Chief of Staff Operational Studies and Training
Major General Vuitel is responsible for military strategic and operational training, and for the collective training of general officers. He also provides support for various federal and Swiss Security Network exercises. He reports to the Chief of the Armed Forces; he contributes to the development of military doctrine and scenarios on future threats, hazards and risks.
Major General Peter Wanner
Defence Attaché in Paris
Major General Wanner is defence attaché at the Swiss Embassy in Paris. He safeguards Switzerland’s security policy and armed forces interests in France, Belgium and Luxembourg. He is accountable to the Head of International Relations in the Armed Forces Staff.
Major General René Wellinger
Commander of the Armed Forces College and Deputy Chief of Training and Education Command
Major General Wellinger commands the Armed Forces College. He is in charge of leadership and the staff training of conscript cadre from company level upwards, career officers and NCOs, and of military science teaching and research, and operational studies and training. He reports directly to the Chief of Training and Education Command and acts as his deputy.
The Armed Forces College’s commander is in charge of the Central School, the General Staff School, the Leadership and communication training command, the Military Academy of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich and the Armed Forces Professional NCO School.
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Brigadier General Marcel Erwin Amstutz
Senior Staff Officer at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP)
Brigadier General Amstutz is a Senior Defence Advisor at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) in Geneva. He represents the GCSP in various areas, such as at conferences, in seminars, workshops or podiums, both in Switzerland and abroad. He works towards expanding the GCSP’s networks of interest, in particular regarding policy and the private sector, but also civil and military security partners. He supports management in the development and implementation of strategies. Brigadier General Amstutz is part of the General Staff of the Swiss Armed Forces.
Brigadier General Silvano Barilli
Commander Logistics Training Unit
Brigadier General Barilli is head of the Logistics Training Unit and is in charge of basic training for all members involved in the Logistics of the Swiss Armed Forces and is also responsible for the operations of the units assigned to him. He answers directly to the Chief of Training and Education Command. The Commander Logistics Training Unit is Commander of the Recruit Schools, NCO Schools and Officer Schools of members of the Logistic and Medical Corps, of the courses for Senior NCOs, and of the Catering Training Centre. He is also in charge of the Veterinary Service and Military Animals Centre and the Military Driver Training Centre.
Brigadier General René Baumann
Chief of Staff, Training and Education Command
Brigadier General Baumann heads the Training and Education Command Staff. Assisted by his subordinate agencies, he provides the Chief of the Training and Education Command with comprehensive and professional support. He is directly accountable to the Chief of the Training and Education Command.
The Chief of Staff of the Training and Education Command is in charge of training directives and management, training planning, training support, resources, management services, recruitment, career development and advice, deployment and career planning, human resources, projects and development, shooting and off-duty activities.
Brigadier General Peter Baumgartner
Commander of the Infantry Training Unit
Brigadier General Baumgartner commands the Infantry Training Unit, and is responsible for the basic training. The Commander of the Infantry Training Unit is accountable to the Chief of Training and Education Command.
The Commander of the Infantry Training Unit is in charge of the infantry schools for recruits, NCOs and officers, the infantry stand-by battalion, and the armed forces mountain service and military bands centres of excellence. He assists superior authorities in planning, evaluating, procuring, fielding and liquidating equipment and systems.
Brigadier General Niels Blatter
Commander Engineer/Rescue/NBC Training Unit
Brigadier General Blatter is the Commander of the Engineer/Rescue/NBC Training Unit. He is responsible for the unit’s basic training and operational readiness. He answers to the Chief of Training and Education Command.
The Commander Engineer/Rescue/NBC Training Unit is in charge of the unit's recruit, NCO and officers schools, the disaster relief stand-by battalion, Motor Boat Company 10, the military diving team, the NBC/EOD Centre of Competence with NBC Defence Battalion 10, the NBC Defence Laboratory 1, the NBC defence company and the Armed Forces Sports Centre of Competence.
Brigadier General Peter Bruns
Head of Armed Forces Planning
Brigadier General Bruns is head of Armed Forces Planning in the Armed Forces Staff. He answers directly to the head of the Armed Forces Staff.
The Head of Armed Forces Planning is responsible for long and medium term armed forces planning, coordination of material safeguarding of the armed forces, armament planning as well as the project portfolio management of the armed forces.
Brigadier General Stefan Flachsmann
Attorney General of the Armed Forces
Brigadier General Flachsmann is the Attorney General of the Swiss Armed Forces. He ensures that the military justice system fulfils its statutory obligations and that the basic conditions are in place for the high-quality administration of justice by the military tribunals.
The Attorney General supervises the administration of military justice while respecting the independence of the military tribunals. He ensures that military criminal proceedings are conducted properly and in accordance with the law. He advises and supports the employees of the military justice system and ensures that they receive the required specialist training.
Brigadier General Thomas A. Frey
Commandant Command Support Training Unit
Brigadier General Frey in charge of Command Support Training Unit and is responsible for armed forces training relating to command support, telematics and signals. He is accountable to the Chief of Training and Education Command.
Commandant Command Support Training Unit is in charge of all command support, signal and electronic operations schools.
Brigadier General Romeo Fritz
Commander Mechanised Brigade 4
Brigadier General Fritz commands Mechanised Brigade 4. He is responsible for basic readiness of his staffs and forces and is accountable to the Commander Land Forces.
The Commander Mechanised Brigade 4 is responsible for training his brigade to plan and conduct operations for warding off military attacks and for civil affairs support operations in Switzerland.
Brigadier General Yves Gächter
Commander Armour and Artillery Training Unit
Brigadier General Gächter is in charge of the Armour and Artillery Training Unit. He is responsible for the basic training of the armour and artillery forces and accountable to the Chief of Training and Education Command.
The armour and artillery recruit, the NCO and officer schools, the command for tests, the military training area in Thun with its mechanised training centre, and the military training area in Bière with its artillery training centre all report to Brigadier General Gächter. Together with his staff, he ensures the further development of the operational doctrine and the technical procedures for the armour and artillery units, and he supports the introduction of new equipment and vehicles.
Brigadier General Martino Ghilardi
Commander Command Support Brigade 41
Brigadier General Ghilardi is in charge of the Command Support Brigade 41/SKS. He is responsible for the training and education of his staffs and troops and reports to the project manager of the Swiss Cyber Command.
The Command Support Brigade 41 is the specialised unit for information and communication technology in the Swiss Armed Forces. It operates the communication and C2-infrastructure along with the electronic warfare systems for the Armed Forces.
Brigadier General Rolf Imoberdorf
Chief of Staff of the Chief of the Armed Forces
Brigadier General Imoberdorf is the Chief of Staff to the Chief of the Armed Forces. He is responsible for business processes and monitoring for the Armed Forces’ leadership. He reports to the Chief of the Armed Forces. The Political and Military Strategy Divisions, the Chief of the Armed Forces Staff Group, Defence Communications and the Military Strategy Staff report to him.
Brigadier General Meinrad Keller
Commander Logistics Brigade 1
Brigadier General Keller commands the Logistics Brigade 1. He is in charge of the basic and further training of his staff and forces, and reports to the Chief of the Armed Forces Logistics Organisation.
The Commander of the Logistics Brigade 1 ensures the basic readiness of the forces and staff units under his command through refresher courses, staff and training courses. His units are involved in logistics and medical services to support both the Armed Forces and the civilian population. The logistics readiness company assigned to him is capable of carrying out logistic tasks throughout Switzerland within hours.
Brigadier General Marco Knechtle
Deputy Commander of Territorial Division 4
A conscript officer, Brigadier General Knechtle is the Deputy Commander of Territorial Division 4. This division is responsible for supporting civilian authorities in exceptional situations. It comprises the cantons of Appenzell-Innerrhoden, Appenzell-Ausserrhoden, Glarus, St. Gallen, Schaffhausen, Thurgau and Zurich. Territorial Division 4 is responsible for one staff battalion, four infantry battalions, one engineer and one rescue battalion.
Brigadier General Knechtle acts on behalf of the Commander of Territorial Division 4 in all of his functions when the latter is absent.
Brigadier General Beat Kocherhans
Military Representative to NATO and the EU
Brigadier General Kocherhans is the Military Representative to NATO and the EU at NATO headquarters in Brussels. He is responsible for Switzerland’s military relations with NATO and the EU. He represents Switzerland’s interests in NATO, including in the framework of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme. He reports to the Heads of Mission of the Permanent Representations of Switzerland to NATO and the EU.
Brigadier General Daniel Krauer
Head of Military Intelligence Service and the Armed Forces Preventive Protection Service
Brigadier General Krauer is the Chief of the Military Intelligence Service and the Armed Forces Preventive Protection Service. He is also responsible for the technical supervision of all armed forces staffs and units with intelligence functions, and his organisational unit is accountable to the Chief of Joint Operations Command.
The Chief of Military Intelligence receives direct orders from the Chief of the Armed Forces and is supervised by the DDPS and by Parliament.
Brigadier General Gregor Metzler
Commandant General Staff Schools
Brigadier General Metzler is commandant of the General Staff schools. He is responsible for basic and progressive training of General Staff officers, progressive training of staff officers in major units and simulator based command post exercises for major units. He is accountable to the commandant Armed Forces College.
Brigadier General Metzler is in charge of courses headquarters and C2 simulator headquarters.
Brigadier General Oliver Müller
Deputy Commander of Territorial Division 2
Current function As a conscript officer, Brigadier General Müller is the Deputy Commander of the Territorial Division 2. The second Territorial Division is responsible for the support of the civilian authorities in case of exceptional situations in the cantons of Lucerne, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Solothurn, Basel Stadt, Basel Landschaft and Aargau. The Territorial Division 2 is composed of one command support battalion, four infantry battalions, one engineer battalion and one rescue battalion.
Brigadier General Müller deputizes for the Commander of the Territorial Division 2 in case of his absence.
Brigadier General Serge Pignat
Commander Mechanised Brigade 1
Current function Brigadier General Pignat commands Mechanised Brigade 1. He is responsible for basic readiness of his staffs and forces and reports to the Commander Land Forces.
The Commander Mechanised Brigade 1 is responsible for training his brigade in the planning and carrying out of operations to defend against military attacks and for civil affairs support operations in Switzerland.
Brigadier General Hans-Jakob Reichen
Senior Staff Officer assigned to the Chief of the Armed Forces
Brigadier General Reichen is the Senior Staff Officer assigned to the Chief of the Armed Forces. He reports directly to the Chief of the Armed Forces and is part of the Armed Forces Staff.
Brigadier General Rihs Markus
Chief of Armed Forces Personnel
Brigadier General Rihs is the Chief of Armed Forces Personnel (J 1) and answers directly to the Chief of Training and Education Command.
The Chief of Armed Forces Personnel is in charge of Recruitment Command, and has overall responsibility for the armed forces manpower and the management of military personnel from recruitment to discharge. In addition, Brigadier General Rihs is in charge of the pastoral care service, the psychological-pedagogic service and the social services of the armed forces.
Brigadier General Christoph Roduner
Commander of Mechanised Brigade 11
Brigadier General Roduner commands Mechanised Brigade 11. He is responsible for the basic readiness of his staffs and units, and reports to the Commander of the Land Forces.
The Commander of Mechanised Brigade 11 is responsible for training his brigade in how to plan and conduct operations to avert military attacks and to safeguard Switzerland's means of existence.
Brigadier General Hugo Roux
Commander of the Military Academy (MILAC) at ETH Zurich
Brigadier General Roux is commander of the Military Academy (MILAC) at ETH Zurich. He reports to the commander of the Armed Forces College.
In addition to the basic and advanced training courses, the following departments are under his authority: Military History, Strategic Studies, Defense Economics, Leadership and Communication, Military Sociology as well as Military Psychology and Military Pedagogy.
Brigadier General Hans Schatzmann
Commander of the Command and Staff Officer School andDeputy Commander of Training and Education
Brigadier General Schatzmann is the commander of the Command and Staff Officer School. He is responsible for the basic training of commanders at small unit level and commanders and commanders’ assistants at medium unit level. He reports directly to the commander of the Armed Forces College and acts as his deputy.
The commander of the Command and Staff Officer School is in charge of the Small Unit Leadership Course Command, the Medium Unit Leadership Course Command, and the Interoperability and Cooperation Command.
Brigadier General Christian Sieber
Commander of the Military Police
Brigadier General Sieber commands the Military Police. The Commander of the Military Police reports directly to the Chief of Joint Operations Command. Military Police Command consists of professional and conscript units.
The professional units provide the armed forces with security, traffic, and criminal investigation services in Switzerland and abroad, protect critical infrastructure, and support third parties with protection and safety operations.
The conscript units carry out protection operations, support third parties, and provide law enforcement services (which include the protection of the armed forces against espionage, sabotage, and other unlawful actions), and personal protection.
Brigadier General Peter Soller
Commander of Ground Based Air Defence Brigade 33
Brigadier General Soller commands Ground Based Air Defence Brigade 33 and is responsible for basic training in its schools and courses, as well as for the readiness of anti-aircraft units. He reports to the Commander of the Swiss Air Force.
As Commander of Ground Based Air Defence Brigade 33, he is also responsible for all anti-aircraft resources of the Swiss Armed Forces: three medium anti-aircraft battalions (35mm) and three lightweight ground-to-air guided missile system battalions (Stinger). Brigadier General Soller supports superior command levels in the development of operational and training doctrine in the context of effects in the air, and contributes significantly to the further development of ground-based air defence.
Brigadier General Eric Steinhauser
Deputy Commander of Territorial Division 3
A conscript officer, Brigadier General Steinhauser is the Deputy Commander of Territorial Division 3, which is responsible for supporting civilian authorities in exceptional situations in the cantons of Graubünden, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri and Zug. Territorial Division 3 comprises one command support battalion, four infantry battalions, one engineer battalion and one rescue battalion. Brigadier General Steinhauser deputises for the Commander of Territorial Division 3 in all of his responsibilities when the latter is absent.
From 1 January to 31 December 2025, Brigadier General Steinhauser will also be assigned to the Armed Forces Staff as a Senior Staff Officer on behalf of the Chief of the Armed Forces, with a workload of 70%. During this period he will support the Chief of the Armed Forces Staff in important projects.