Admiral Manfred Nielson

I retired in Sep 2019 as first German Deputy Supreme Allied Commander (DSACT) at NATO HQ in Norfolk,VA, after more than 46 years of active duty.

I joined the German Navy in 1973 as reserve officer candidate and graduated from Helmut Schmidt University in 1978.

I commanded units at all levels including Commander German Naval Officer’s School, Commander Operation Enduring Freedom and Commander in Chief German Fleet.

In MoD Germany I served in the private office of the Minister for Defense, as office manager of Deputy Minister for Defence, as Chief of Division Personal, Social Services and Central Affairs and as Director Armed Forces Staff for the CHOD‘s General Schneiderhan and General Wieker. In 2010 I became personal agent of the Minister for Defense for the realignment of the German Armed Forces.

In 2012 I was appointed Chief of Staff Joint Forces Service Command and Territorial Commander for Germany.

I hold a Master‘s Degree in Economics and Organizational Sciences and became graduated from the Admiral Staff Officers Course at the Bundeswehr Command and Staff College (Führungsakademie) in Hamburg and NATO Defense College in Rom, ITA.