Change of command at the Naval Air Command

Captain Thorsten Bobzin hands over to Captain Broder Nielsen after 51 months in office

Today, Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen, Commander of Operations Forces and Head of the Operations Department, handed over command of the Naval Aviation Command from Captain Thorsten Bobzin (57) to Captain Broder Nielsen (59). The cool weather did not deter the many invited guests from the Bundeswehr, German Navy, almost all organisational areas of the armed forces and authorities as well as representatives of the surrounding North Sea communities from attending in large numbers. Thorsten Bobzin was confronted with numerous challenges during his time as commander: he was jointly responsible for the introduction of the NH90 NTH Sea Lion multi-role helicopter and getting it on the way to operational capability. The decision on the successor to the P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and submarine hunter also bears his signature, as does the development of new digital training concepts. In a time of numerous upheavals, from official assistance during the coronavirus pandemic to coping with the reactions to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, this was an eventful time for the Naval Air Command. In his farewell speech, Bobzin emphasised the flexibility and efficiency of the naval aviators. He literally said "I don't really want to be here at the front", that's how attached he is to the post. During his farewell speech, he emphasised the special relationship with the international allies - some of the speech was therefore in English. As a special gesture, he honoured three deserving servicemen and women for their outstanding achievements - on behalf of the members of the command - with the Bundeswehr Cross of Honour in Gold. Bobzin, himself a helicopter pilot, has thus held and shaped the highest office of the naval aviators for over four years. In future, he will be working at the Federal Ministry of Defence in Bonn.

Captain Nielsen will be the fifth commander since the establishment of the naval aviation command in October 2012. He is no stranger to the Nordholz naval air base. Before his last assignment at the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Personnel Management in Cologne, he was Chief of Staff. The handover ceremony will be accompanied by music from the Hanover Army Music Corps on the airfield of the Nordholz naval air base. It was also particularly important to him to honour the international guests present and to highlight the NATO alliance as a guarantor of our security. As a special gesture, he interrupted the ceremony for a minute's silence to honour those who died in the war in Ukraine.

At the subsequent reception in the officers' mess, everyone had the traditional opportunity to speak to the outgoing and new commanders in person, with the "who's who" of naval aviators and former commanders in attendance, as well as the commanders of the operational flotillas and representatives of personnel management, BAAINBw and the schools. During this ceremony, both also emphasised the cooperation with the allies.

Text: hsc

Photos: Bundeswehr / Krone / Behne