General Manager, AFCEA Europe
Maj. Gen. Erich Staudacher, GEAF (Ret.), retired from the German Armed Forces in 2016. He served in combat missions based in Italy and Uzbekistan, took command positions in various assignments from company to division size level and worked in eminent staff positions such as director of airstaff at the Ministry of Defence.
Gen. Staudacher joined the German Armed Forces in 1974 and was commissioned at the German Airforce Academy in 1975. As a maintenance and technical officer by trade and education, he transferred during his career into the wider business of logistics and general staff tasks such as Plans, Policy and Concepts at the headquarters as well as on the ministerial level.
From 1986 to 1988, he commanded the Maintenance Squadron of Fighter Bomber Wing No. 31 at Nörvenich Airbase, West Germany. From 1994 to 1996, he commanded the Technical Group of FBW No. 32 at Lechfeld Airbase in southern Germany. From 2005 to 2007, he commanded a group of various units of battalion and regimental size as the deputy commander of the Military District IV in Munich, Southern Germany. From 2009 to 2010, he commanded a group of various units and commands of regimental and brigade size as deputy commander of the Armed Forces Support Command in Cologne in western Germany. From 2001 to 2003 he directed the Faculty of Leadership and Management at the Armed Forces Staff College in Hamburg in northern Germany.
In addition to his command assignments, Gen. Staudacher has served in a variety of senior leadership positions for the German Armed Forces, the German Airforce and the Foreign Service of the Federal Republic of Germany, including military assistant to the director of the Joint Armed Forces Staff at the Ministry of Defence (MOD); military adviser to the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations; director for logistics and support of the Airforce Support Command and the Airforce Operations Command; vice director of staff of the Joint Armed Forces Staff at the MOD in Bonn and Berlin; director of staff of the Airforce; director of Headquarters of the German Airforce in Berlin and Cologne; and vice director of the German Armed Forces Planning Office.
Gen. Staudacher earned a Master's of Engineering degree in aeronautical and space technology in 1978 as a distinguished graduate from Bundeswehr University, Munich. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in economics from FernUniversität, Hagen. He graduated at the German Armed Forces College, Hamburg, and he holds various decorations and awards, including the Bundeswehr Kreuz in Gold.
Gen. Staudacher enjoys classical music and jazz, and reading American short stories. He also loves visiting museums and displays of liberal arts such as paintings, photography and sculptures. He is married and has one daughter.
He has engaged with AFCEA since 2009, first as vice president and president of the Bonn chapter from 2010 until 2016, finally since 2017 as general manager, AFCEA Europe.