Colonel Armin Dirks

During his early career, Colonel Dirks served as an Armour Officer in a tank battalion as platoon commander, signal officer, intelligence officer, company commander, and deputy battalion commander. He also held assignments as officer candidates’ class leader, as chief of life firing exercise branch at the Armoured Forces School, and as S-3 Ops officer in an Armoured Division HQ.

For many years, Colonel Dirks served in the armament sector. In early years, as desk officer for simulation & training systems, for armoured capability transformation, and for material requirements. Later, he held the appointment of section chief for material development of the Armoured Corps. Simultaneously, he was the chairperson of the LEOBEN Combat Development Working Group.

Colonel Dirks served two terms in the German Federal MoD. One as ministerial official for Research & Technology. The other as desk officer for the Main Ground Combat System, which is supposed to become the successor system of LEOPARD 2 MBT. Since 2020, Colonel Dirks serves as Head of Operations in the Combined Project Team of the Main Ground Combat System.

Colonel Dirks holds a Dipl.-Ing. Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science Degree in Operations Research. His mission assignments include Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Afghanistan.