- 1980–1985 Academic studies of history and social sciences, University of Bonn
- 1986–1987 Scholarship for security policy studies at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), Bonn
- 1988 Research Fellow, Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University
- 1989–2003 Research fellow, subsequently head of the Security Policy and Planning Department, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Bonn
- 1992 PhD degree, University of the German Armed Forces Hamburg
- 1997–1998 Temporary assignment as Security Policy Desk Officer in the Planning Staff of the Federal Foreign Ministry, Bonn
- 1999 Lecturer at the Institute for Political Science, University of Cologne
- 2003–2007 Security Policy Coordinator, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Berlin
- 2007–2013 Research Director, NATO Defense College (NDC), Rome
- 2009 Advisor in the „NATO Group of Experts on the New Strategic Concept“, appointed by its chairwoman, Madeleine Albright
- 2013–2015 Academic Director at the Federal Academy for Security Policy, Berlin
- 2015- 2019 President of the Federal Academy for Security Policy Berlin
- 2019 – 2023 Special Envoy of the Political Director in the German Ministry of Defence, Berlin
- Since 2023 Lecturer at the University “Roma Tre” in Rome
Since 2016, he is also the co-editor of the strategic journal “Sirius” and he published more than 400 articles on security policy issues in books and journals.