General Markus Laubenthal assumed duties as Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe on 24 September 2024. Previously, he served as Vice Chief of Defence of the Bundeswehr for four years and prior to that, from 2018 to 2020 as Director General for Forces Policy in the German Federal Ministry of Defence, overseeing the readiness transformation of the German armed forces across all domains.
General Markus 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, two tank companies to Panzerbattalion 203 in Hemer, Westphalia (2003 – 2005) and Panzerbrigade 12 “Oberpfalz” in Bavaria (2012-2014). In 2017/2018 he commanded the 1st Panzerdivision in Oldenburg, Northern Germany.
He has also served in a variety of staff positions at all levels, primarily in operations and policy fields , including G3 Airmobile Division in Veitshoechheim, Bavaria and G3 Army Forces Command (Heeresführungskommando Koblenz) and later as Branch Head for European and African Affairs in the Policy Planning Staff to the Minister of Defence in Berlin. In 2011 he became the leading Branch Head for the establishment of the new Defence Policy Directorate of the Federal Ministry of Defence. Subsequently he held the position of Branch Head for Defence and Strategic Guidelines.
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 Markus Laubenthal graduated from the 40th General Staff Course at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr in Hamburg (1997-1999). Furthermore, he attended the Advanced Command & Staff Course No. 5 at the Joint Services Command & Staff College (2001-2002) in Shrivenham, United Kingdom, while completing a Master of Arts degree in Defence Studies at King’s College in London.
General Markus Laubenthal served as Military Assistant to the Deputy Commander Operations of the Kosovo Force in Pristina in 2002/2003. In 2013/2014 he was assigned as Chief of Staff, Regional Command North to the ISAF mission in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, reorganizing the RC North posture for RESOLUTE SUPPORT.
General Markus Laubenthal is married to Birgit. They have a grown-up daughter.