Rear Admiral Juergen Mannhardt (ret.) has served aboard fast patrol boats, destroyers, and frigates in various positions up to deputy and Chief of Staff DEU Flotilla 1. During his last assignment at sea, he was Commander Maritime Task Force 448 UNIFIL and served two times under US Central Command in Tampa and Bahrain, earning various awards like the OEF- and the UNIFIL-medal. Holding a Master’s Degree in economics, he took part in the 29th Admiral Staff Course and was a lecturer for Leadership & Management and Operational Art at the Bundeswehr Command and General Staff College in Hamburg. Before he retired at the end of 2016, his last flag officer assignments were Superintendent of the German Naval Academy in Flensburg, Deputy Commander of the Naval Office and Head of Plans and Policy Directorate of German Navy Headquarters in Rostock. Today he consults for a number of German and international companies on defence matters.