Chief of the General Staff of the Bundesheer: Klaudia Tanner picks Lieutenant General Harald Vodosek

The new Chief of the General Staff of the Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer) has been chosen: the succession at the top goes to Lieutenant General Harald Vodosek.

Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner cites his career as the reason:

With Lieutenant General Vodosek, a highly qualified and experienced officer is taking over the leadership of the Austrian Armed Forces. He knows the Bundesheer from a wide variety of functions and has extensive experience in the fields of operations, command, personnel and procurement. Especially at a time when we are consistently modernising the Bundesheer and preparing it for the challenges of the future, his expertise is of particular importance— Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner

To form her own view, Tanner had spoken personally with all 6 applicants. The minister says of the field:

6 outstanding officers applied, and I thank each and every one of them for their application and their commitment— Klaudia Tanner

The quality and expertise of the candidates show that the Bundesheer has outstanding leaders.— Klaudia Tanner

Appointment by the Federal President

Today, the Federal Minister personally informed Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, Commander-in-Chief of the Bundesheer, of her choice. It is his task to review the minister’s decision and appoint the Chief of the General Staff. The responsible Central Staff Committee of the Ministry of Defence was also informed today.

Lieutenant General Harald Vodosek responds to his selection:

I thank Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner for the trust placed in me and am aware of the great responsibility that comes with this high position. Together with the ministry’s leadership and the General Staff, I will make every effort to lead the Bundesheer further into a modern and strong future in the spirit of ‘Mission Vorwärts’. In view of the security policy challenges and the current situation in Europe, I will continue to place particular emphasis on consistently pursuing and implementing the ‘Aufbauplan 2032+’. Our common goal is to strengthen military national defence sustainably and to position the Austrian Armed Forces as well as possible for the challenges of the future.— Lieutenant General Harald Vodosek

The future Chief of the General Staff: from the military academy to armaments

Vodosek joined the Austrian Armed Forces in 1982 as a one-year volunteer, then attended the Theresian Military Academy. Several years with Landwehrstammregiment 34 (a territorial defence regiment) and at the academy followed before he completed the 14th General Staff Course.

Later posts included head of logistics of the 9th Armoured Infantry Brigade and head of a section in the ministry’s Armaments Planning Division. He then represented Austria at the Military Representation in Brussels and subsequently held several functions in the Federal Ministry of Defence.

Further important positions include his role as commander of the Jagdkommando (Austrian special forces) as well as heading the Provisioning Support Group and Human Resource Management for the Austrian Armed Forces.

In 2021, Vodosek was tasked with leading Directorate 5 – Procurement. Since 2025, he has headed this directorate and is also National Armaments Director. In this role, he bears key responsibility for implementing numerous procurement and modernisation projects of the Austrian Armed Forces.

Drawing on many years of experience in military command, personnel, logistics, international cooperation and armaments, Lieutenant General Vodosek now assumes the military leadership of the Austrian Armed Forces.