Now completely official

Vice Admiral Kaack becomes the new Inspector of the Navy

On Friday, 11 March 2022 at 10 a.m., the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, General Eberhard Zorn (62), will hand over command of the German Navy to Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack (59). The ceremony will be held at the Mürwik Naval Academy.

"I would like to thank you for the trust you have placed in me and look forward to working with our men and women - on land, at sea and in the air - to move the navy forward," said the naval officer, who was promoted to Vice Admiral just last week. Jan Christian Kaack is currently Commander of the Fleet and Support Forces and Deputy to the Chief of Naval Operations. Vice Admiral Kaack gained command experience on fast patrol boats, destroyers and frigates. From 2003 to 2004, he was commander of the frigate "Bayern", which recently returned successfully from the Indo-Pacific. Positions as a consultant and head of division in the Federal Ministry of Defence were followed by assignments as commander of Operational Flotilla 1, head of the Operations Department in the Armed Forces Base and commander of the NATO Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger/Norway. Born in Eutin, he attaches particular importance to the Baltic Sea and the northern flank: "We have been increasing our presence in the Baltic Sea for some time in order to send a clear signal of our alliance solidarity." His successor as Commander of the Fleet and Support Forces and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations will be Rear Admiral Frank Lenski (60), who is currently Chief of Staff at Naval Command. The aerospace engineer began his military career as an aircraft engineering officer. After completing his admiral's staff training, he worked as a consultant and head of division at the Federal Ministry of Defence. This was followed by assignments as Head of Department in the Defence Forces Base and Commander of the Naval Support Command. In 2017, he took on the role of Head of Operations Support Department. Rear Admiral Lenski looks forward to the new challenge with confidence: "I feel grateful, proud and humble before this task and at the same time very happy to be able to lead the men and women of the fleet and support forces. At the same time, I am counting on our professionalism and determination in view of the dramatic situation we are all facing in Ukraine. I know I am part of a strong team!"