Change of leadership at the largest Bundeswehr base

Operational Flotilla 2 receives a new commander.

On Friday, 29 November 2024 at 10 a.m., Rear Admiral Stephan Haisch, Commander Operational Forces and Head of Operations at Naval Command, will once again make a change of command in his area.

Operational Flotilla 2 receives new commander, Photo: hsc

He will hand over command of Flotilla 2 from Flotilla Admiral Axel Schulz to his successor, Captain Sven Beck. The outgoing commander has been at the helm of the unit since September 2021.

In an exclusive press conference on 27 November, Axel Schulz answered questions about his time in command, the leadership of the Indo-Pacific Alliance and his assessment of the situation with regard to availability and personnel.

"I look back on a very fulfilling and exciting time as Flotilla Commander and consider it a great privilege that I was able to lead Flotilla 2 over the past few years. I am therefore leaving with a lot of melancholy and very fond memories of a great period of service as commander. During my time, I was always impressed by the professionalism, motivation and dedication with which our ship crews, but also the flotilla and squadron staffs, including the operational training centre and the naval base command - despite the major personnel and material problems - kept the operational capability of the ships high and operated worldwide. Not least during the Indo-Pacific Deployment, I was able to see for myself the operational readiness of my flotilla and the commitment of the men and women on board. I would therefore like to thank all the men and women in the operational flotilla for their commitment and dedication, and I know that in Captain Sven Beck I have a very strong and highly experienced successor who will continue along the path we have taken with Operational Flotilla 2," he says, looking back with pride on the performance of the members of his flotilla and his time in command. In future, he will be based in Bonn as Deputy Head of the Personnel Department at the Federal Ministry of Defence.

His successor, Captain Sven Beck, will take over as Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander at the head of Operational Flotilla 2.