General Markus Laubenthal

Chief of Staff NATO SHAPE

General Markus Laubenthal assumed duties as Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in September 2024. Previously, he served as Vice Chief of Defence of the Bundeswehr and as Director General for Forces Policy at the German Federal Ministry of Defence.

General Laubenthal joined the Bundeswehr in 1982 as a conscript and attended officer training in the Armoured Corps. He held command positions at all levels from platoon to division. He has also served in a variety of staff positions, primarily in operations and military policy. In 2014 he became the first non-US Chief of Staff of the Headquarters United States Army Europe in Wiesbaden, leading all staff efforts for the renewed deployment of US Army forces in enhanced forward presence and vigilance activities across Europe.

General Laubenthal graduated from the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr (1997-1999) and attended the Advanced Command & Staff Course (2001-2002) in Shrivenham, U.K. while completing a Master’s degree in Defence Studies at King’s College in London.

General Laubenthal served in Missions in Kosovo (2002/2003) and Afghanistan (2013/2014).