MANAMA: The International Institute for Strategic Studies has announced the appointment of Dr Michael Froneberg as its new Executive Director of IISS–Europe. He succeeds Dr Ben Schreer, who has become Director of Defence, Technology and Future Conflict, based in London.
Dr Froneberg will assume responsibility for leading and developing the IISS–Europe office in Berlin and will be a member of the IISS Directing Staff.
He joins the Institute from KNDS Deutschland, where he was Head of EU and NATO relations for four and a half years. He has also chaired the European Affairs Committee for the German Security and Defence Industry Association (BDSV) in Berlin for the past two years.
With considerable political experience, Dr Froneberg has previously served as a policy officer in the Federal Ministry of Defence, where he contributed to the development and adaptation of regulatory frameworks and strategic foundations for security-relevant systems, and as a Senior Advisor on Military and Security policy in the German Bundestag.
Dr Froneberg’s military experience includes as a Bundeswehr hospital and Airmobile Medical Team physician, company commander in the German Airborne Support Battalion and Departmental Head in the Rapid Forces Medical Command. He holds a Masters in Disaster Medicine from the University of Eastern Piedmont in Italy and completed his Doctorate in Medicine at the University of Freiburg in Germany.
‘I’m very excited to join the IISS at this pivotal time in Europe. As a senior strategic leader operating at the intersection of European security policy, defence industry and transatlantic institutions, I look forward to bringing my military and political experience and perspectives to this important role,” Dr Froneberg said.
Dr Bastian Giegerich, Director-General and Chief Executive of the IISS, said ‘Dr Froneberg brings a unique blend of practical experience to IISS–Europe, ranging across policy, the private sector and the armed forces. He will further energise our presence in Berlin and in Europe, and I am thrilled he is joining the Institute’s directing staff.’
“I am delighted that Dr Froneberg will take over the leadership of the IISS–Europe Office from me and I look forward to working with him,” Dr Ben Schreer, IISS Director of Defence, Technology and Future Conflict, said.


