Tanner: “Experienced commanders take on the highest management positions”
Vienna (OTS) – Major General Martin Dorfer was appointed head of Directorate 1 and commander of the “Operation of Land Forces and Special Operations Forces” and Brigadier Gerfried Promberger was appointed head of Directorate 2 and commander of the air force. They prevailed in an application process and will be appointed to their new position as quickly as possible.
Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner: “With Major General Martin Dorfer and Brigadier Gerfried Promberger, experienced commanders are taking on two of the highest management positions in the Federal Army. Especially in times of upheaval in security policy, it is important that officers with experience lead the land forces and special operations forces on the one hand and the air force on the other hand with caution on the way to a strong, modern and efficient army in order to be prepared for current and future threats. I wish Major General Martin Dorfer and Brigadier Gerfried Promberger all the best and a lot of strength for their challenging tasks and look forward to spending time together on the path towards strengthened land and air forces.”
Martin Dorfer’s service in the armed forces
Major General Martin Dorfer joined the Federal Army as a one-year volunteer in St. Michael in Upper Styria in 1985. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in the infantry in 1990 and held a variety of command and staff positions.
In 2006 he completed the 17th general staff course at the National Defense Academy. After working at the National Defense Academy, the troops and in the central office, he served as chief of staff in the cabinet for two federal ministers. In 2017, Dorfer was appointed head of the “Ongoing Operations” group and has been in charge of the “Operation of Land Forces and Special Operations Forces” directorate (Directorate 1) since 2021.
Major General Dorfer gained experience in foreign missions in the Balkans in 1997 and as a military observer with the UN observer mission UNTSO in the Middle East from 1999 to 2000. Dorfer was commander of the Austrian contingent and chief of staff in the UNDOF mission in the Golan Heights from 2011 to 2012 and commander of the EUFOR force in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2018 and 2019.
He is a recipient of the Order of Merit “Ordre National du Mérite” of the Republic of France and the Order of Merit “Honours for the Alliance” of the Hungarian Armed Forces.
Martin Dorfer was born in Styria, is married, has three sons and lives with his family in the Wiener Neustadt district.
Gerfried Promberger’s service in the armed forces
Brigadier Gerfried Promberger is currently in charge of the Air Force (Directorate 2). He graduated as a lieutenant in 1995 and has since worked as an operational pilot, military flight instructor, staff officer and commander. He has over 2,800 hours of flying experience on eight different types of aircraft, mainly the Pilatus PC-7 and the Saab 105. From 2000 to 2003 he completed the 16th General Staff Course at the National Defense Academy.
As commander of the air force, he is responsible for leading the air force. Promberger is responsible for fundamental matters relating to air-specific operational preparation, planning and management as well as fundamental matters relating to military aviation and the aviation security service.
Brigadier Promberger is also the “Air Chief” of the Austrian Armed Forces – representing the Chief of the General Staff in all military aviation matters at home and abroad – and has coordination authority in all air matters. In this role, he coordinates with aviation authorities and companies. As commander of the air force, Promberger is responsible for the air surveillance and air support units as well as the aviation and anti-aircraft troop school.
He has previously been commander of air surveillance, commander of the surveillance squadron, chief of staff in the air force command, head of the “A3 & Air Operation Center” department in the armed forces command as well as deputy commander and chief of staff of the aviation and anti-aircraft troops school.
Brigadier Promberger gained experience in missions abroad, including in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012. Promberger completed the “US Air War College” at the “US Air University” and graduated with honors with a Master of Strategic Studies. He is currently completing a PhD in “Interdisciplinary Legal Studies” at the Juridicum of the University of Vienna.
Gerfried Promberger was born in Carinthia, has two children and lives in the city of Salzburg.
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