Retired General Chris Badia, retired Lieutenant General Frank Leidenberger and retired Vice Admiral Frank Lenski will be members of the Military Advisory Board of DSEI Germany. All three retired from active service at the end of 2025 and will contribute their experience from different areas of the Bundeswehr to the development of the trade fair and conference program.

"DSEI Germany is launching at a time when Europe is realigning its military strategy and defense planning. General Badia, Lieutenant General Leidenberger and Vice Admiral Lenski not only bring a deep understanding of the land, air, sea, cyber and space domains, but also extensive expertise in the areas of defense planning and NATO transformation," explains Bernd Kögel, Managing Director of DSEI Germany.

Addressing current security policy developments in Europe

For the organizers, the appointment of the three former officers is part of their aim to address current security policy developments in Europe. "DSEI Germany will be the most important German event for the defense sector. It will bring together high-ranking representatives from government, the armed forces, industry and international partners who are shaping Europe's defense strategy. With its expertise and experience, the DSEI Germany Advisory Board will support us in ensuring that the new military priorities of Germany and its allies are reflected in the design of DSEI Germany," says Kögel.

The three advisors each represent different areas of the armed forces. Chris Badia began his career in the German Air Force as an F-4 Phantom pilot. He later led the Fighter Wing 71 "Richthofen", was deployed in Afghanistan and subsequently took on leadership roles at national and international level. Most recently, he was NATO's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, making him the highest-ranking German officer in the alliance.

Frank Leidenberger joined the German Armed Forces in 1977. His career took him to Bosnia and Herzegovina and several times to Afghanistan. From 2009 to 2010, he commanded the German contingent in the Hindu Kush. After his military career, he moved to the top of BWI GmbH, the IT service provider of the German Armed Forces, which he led as CEO until October 2025.

Frank Lenski, on the other hand, comes from the navy. He has held various leadership positions in the navy, the armed forces base and the Ministry of Defense. Most recently, he was Commander of the Fleet and Support Forces and Deputy to the Inspector of the Navy.

Trade fair as an interface between the military and industry

Badia sees the trade fair primarily as an interface between the armed forces and industry. "As part of the DSEI Germany team, I'm looking forward to getting next year's launch event off the ground," he said. "Germany's recently presented military strategy emphasizes how important it is to introduce innovative technologies quickly. This is where DSEI Germany offers industry the opportunity to showcase their solutions on a global stage. As Germany takes a leading role within NATO, I look forward to advancing the dialog on strengthening the continent's military capabilities and operational independence."

DSEI Germany aims to bring together exhibitors from the fields of aerospace, land and sea systems, cyber and information, joint support systems and industrial solutions. In addition to defense companies, industrial suppliers and technology providers from Germany, Europe and other partner countries are also expected to attend.