Wolfram Kühn
Encyclopedia
Wolfram Kühn is a German Navy
Vice Admiral
and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Bundeswehr
as well as Chief of Staff of the Streitkräftebasis
.
Kühn entered the Bundeswehr in 1972. After the basic navy officer training, he studied Economics and Business Administration at the Bundeswehr University of Munich. After graduating in 1977 he served on the Destroyer
Schleswig-Holstein as a CIC
officer. In 1979 he was promoted to Captain Lieutenant
and assigned to the Territorial Command of Schleswig-Holstein
as Adjutant
of the commander, who was also the highest German responsible within NATO's Allied Forces Northern Europe
(AFNORTH). From 1982 to 1984 Kühn served as department head of the supply department on Frigate
Rheinland-Pfalz. Selected for the Admiral Staff Officer Course at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr
it was during this course that he was promoted to Corvette Captain
.
From 1986 to 1987 Kühn served as an instructor and company commander at the Navy Supply School in List (Sylt
). From 1988 to 1989 he again was posted at the Territorial Command of Schleswig-Holstein, this time as a logistics staff officer (G4). Later he served at the Ministry of Defense
in Bonn
until 1991. From 1991 until 1993 Kühn was assigned to the Navy Supply School as Division Commander and Vice Commander of the school. During the next two years he again served at the Ministry of Defense within the Navy Staff and was responsible for general issues, logistics and procurement. In 1994 he studied at the Defence Resources Management Institute (DRMI) of the Naval Postgraduate School
in Monterey, California
.
Back in Germany from 1994 to 1997 he served as Chief Financial Officer in the Navy Support Command in Wilhelmshaven
. From 1997 to 1998 he studied at the National War College
in Washington, D.C. and gained a Master of Science in National Security Strategy.
From 1998 to 2001 he was assigned to the ministry of defence as a section chief.
From 2001 to 2002 Kühn served as Chief of Staff
of the Joint Support Command. From 2002 to 2002 he was Staff Department Chief in the Navy Staff. In 2004 he was Chief of Staff of the Inspector General
. In 2006 he was promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed Inspector of the Streitkräftebasis
.
German Navy
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr .The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy...
Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
as well as Chief of Staff of the Streitkräftebasis
Streitkräftebasis
Streitkräftebasis is a branch of the German Bundeswehr established in October 2000 as a result of major reforms of the German Bundeswehr. It handles various logistics and organisational tasks of the German Armed Forces...
.
Kühn entered the Bundeswehr in 1972. After the basic navy officer training, he studied Economics and Business Administration at the Bundeswehr University of Munich. After graduating in 1977 he served on the Destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
Schleswig-Holstein as a CIC
Combat Information Center
The Operations Room is the tactical center of a warship or AWAC aircraft providing processed information for command and control of the near battle space or 'area of operations'...
officer. In 1979 he was promoted to Captain Lieutenant
Captain Lieutenant
Captain lieutenant or captain-lieutenant is a military rank, used in a number of different navies worldwide.It is generally equivalent to the Commonwealth or US rank of lieutenant, and has the NATO rank code of OF-2, though this can vary....
and assigned to the Territorial Command of Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
as Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the commander, who was also the highest German responsible within NATO's Allied Forces Northern Europe
Allied Forces Northern Europe
Allied Forces Northern Europe was the most northern NATO command located at Kolsås outside Oslo. It was part of Allied Command Europe from around 1952 to 2003...
(AFNORTH). From 1982 to 1984 Kühn served as department head of the supply department on Frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
Rheinland-Pfalz. Selected for the Admiral Staff Officer Course at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr
Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr
The Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr is the highest military academy of the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr. Established in 1957, and since 1958 located in Hamburg, it is the successor of the Prussian Military Academy that was established in 1810...
it was during this course that he was promoted to Corvette Captain
Corvette Captain
Corvette captain is a rank in many navies which theoretically corresponds to command of a corvette . The equivalent rank in the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and USA is lieutenant commander...
.
From 1986 to 1987 Kühn served as an instructor and company commander at the Navy Supply School in List (Sylt
Sylt
Sylt is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfriesland district, Schleswig-Holstein, and well known for the distinctive shape of its shoreline. It belongs to the North Frisian Islands and is the largest island in North Frisia...
). From 1988 to 1989 he again was posted at the Territorial Command of Schleswig-Holstein, this time as a logistics staff officer (G4). Later he served at the Ministry of Defense
Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)
The Federal Ministry of Defence is a top-level federal agency, headed by the Federal Minister of Defence as a member of the Cabinet of Germany...
in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
until 1991. From 1991 until 1993 Kühn was assigned to the Navy Supply School as Division Commander and Vice Commander of the school. During the next two years he again served at the Ministry of Defense within the Navy Staff and was responsible for general issues, logistics and procurement. In 1994 he studied at the Defence Resources Management Institute (DRMI) of the Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
in Monterey, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Back in Germany from 1994 to 1997 he served as Chief Financial Officer in the Navy Support Command in Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven
Wilhelmshaven is a coastal town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the western side of the Jade Bight, a bay of the North Sea.-History:...
. From 1997 to 1998 he studied at the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
in Washington, D.C. and gained a Master of Science in National Security Strategy.
From 1998 to 2001 he was assigned to the ministry of defence as a section chief.
From 2001 to 2002 Kühn served as Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of the Joint Support Command. From 2002 to 2002 he was Staff Department Chief in the Navy Staff. In 2004 he was Chief of Staff of the Inspector General
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
. In 2006 he was promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed Inspector of the Streitkräftebasis
Streitkräftebasis
Streitkräftebasis is a branch of the German Bundeswehr established in October 2000 as a result of major reforms of the German Bundeswehr. It handles various logistics and organisational tasks of the German Armed Forces...
.