Dr Bernhard Kotsch has been a State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office since 6 May 2025.

Curriculum vitae

May 2025 to present
State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office

2021 to 2025
Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

2021 to 2025
Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Holy See

2018 to 2021
Head of the Directorate-General for the Federal Intelligence Service & coordination of Federal Intelligence Services, Federal Chancellery

2010 to 2018
Deputa Head, Office of the Federal Chancellor, Federal Chancellery

2009
Directorate-General for Foreign Relations, Federal Chancellery

2007 to 2009
Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy Dakar, Senegal

2006 to 2007
Directorate-General for Foreign Relations, Federal Chancellery

2003 to 2005
Leave of absence, Head of the Office for International Relations, CDU

2002
German Embassy Skopje

2000 - 2002
Preparatory service for the higher Foreign Service

1995 to 1999
Doctorate in Political Science in Chemnitz

1990 to 1995
Study of Political Science and History in Regensburg and Oxford

1997 to 2000
Office for International Relations, CDU

1988 to 1989
Military service; reserve Lieutenant-Colonel

1988
Higher education entrance qualification (Abitur)

Born in Regensburg on 25 August 1969