CV

• Born on 10 February 1963 in Husum

• 1981
  Abitur (university entrance qualification) at Meldorfer Gelehrtenschule

• 1982 to 1986
  Fixed-time soldier in the Federal Armed Forces, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel in the reserve

• Since 1982
  Member of the CDU

• 1986 to 1991
  Studied law at Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, graduating with his first state examination in law and, following a preparatory service period at the Regional Court District of Kiel from 1993 to 1995, his second state examination in law 

• 1995 to 2000
  Employed at a law firm in Lübeck

• 1996
  PhD as a doctor of law

• 2000 to 2002
  State Chair of the CDU in Schleswig-Holstein

• Since 2001
  Self-employed lawyer

• 2000 to 2009
  Member of the State Parliament of Schleswig-Holstein

• 2005 to 2009
  Chair of the CDU parliamentary group in the state parliament

• Since 2009
  Member of the Bundestag

• 2010 to 2021
  Member of the federal board of the CDU in Germany

• 2018 to 2025
  Deputy Chair of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag

• Since 6 May 2025
  Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs