Areas of Expertise

• Sub-Saharan Africa
• Human Resources
• Space

Academic Degrees

• Law

Colonel Patrick Freiherr von Pfetten-Arnbach is a reserve officer within the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces). He began his military career in the Alpine Tank Brigade as a tank officer. After two years of service, he left the Army to study law at the Universities of Munich and Hamburg. 

Colonel Freiherr von Pfetten-Arnbach began his post-university professional career in South Africa as a manager for an international tourism organization. After five years, he became a self-employed farmer in Zambia. Returning to Europe, he then worked in a global executive search firm specializing in the financial service sector. Building on his financial sector experience and network, he established his own executive search boutique. Following the sale of his company, he returned to the Bundeswehr where he completed a tour in Afghanistan serving in various staff functions (HR, Protocol), and also spent time working as a staff officer for Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum. Prior to his posting at the George C. Marshall Center in April 2024, Colonel Freiherr von Pfetten-Arnbach served for seven years in the Bundeswehr Homeland Defense Command in Berlin as head of the special projects branch. 

Colonel Freiherr von Pfetten-Arnbach received an Honor Medal of the Bundeswehr (Gold), an ISAF Medal of the Bundeswehr and NATO ISAF Medal, a Médaille de la Défense National (Gold) (République Francaise). Other personal awards include the Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Order of Malta.