Ambassador and Embassy Departments and Sections

Ambassador Klaus Scharioth, © German Embassy, Washington DC; by Larry Levin

Ambassador

Ambassador Klaus Scharioth is Germany's highest-ranking representative to the US government. His main tasks are to represent German interests in the United States and to foster and deepen German-American relations in the political, economic and cultural spheres.

Ambassador: Klaus Scharioth

Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM)

The Ambassador is supported in his role by the Deputy Chief of Mission, who represents the Ambassador inside and outside the Embassy in all areas. He handles coordination and general personnel matters as well as particular political issues.

Deputy Chief of Mission: Jens Hanefeld

Political Department

The Political Department informs the federal government about developments in American foreign and domestic policy and explains the political situation in Germany, in particular foreign-policy issues, to its American partners. It also coordinates German government positions with U.S. policies. The Political Department furthermore organizes visits to the U.S. capital by high-ranking German political officials.

Head of Department: Christoph Eichhorn

Economics and Science Department

The Economics and Science Department promotes German interests in the economic, commercial, financial, agricultural, technological, research and environmental sectors in the U.S. and serves as a point of contact for Germany-related economic questions.  It works with, among other organizations, the German American Chambers of Commerce, the German American Business Council and the Representative of German Industry and Trade. 

Head of Department: Matthias Peter Sonn

Press Section

The Press Section is responsible for presenting German domestic and foreign policies to the American public. It maintains close contacts with American journalists and is a main information source for the numerous German correspondents working in the United States.

The Press Section manages germany.info, the joint, interactive website of the Embassy in Washington, the German Information Center and the eight consulates general in the US.

Head of Section: Karl-Matthias Klause

Cultural Section

The Cultural Section offers a window onto Germany’s rich and varied cultural life. It works together with its partners, which includes the Goethe Institut, to keep many people in the U.S. connected to our country and enable them to learn the German language. Through exchange programs, it helps young Americans personally get to know Germany, its culture, landscapes, cities and people. In this effort, it works with numerous institutions in the U.S. and Germany – among them, the German Historical Institute in Washington, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Head of Section: Bertram von Moltke

Consular and Legal Section

The Consular and Legal Section provides visa services for those who would like to travel to Germany as well as a range of other services for German citizens. It also follows legal issues in America that are of interest to Germany.

Head of Section: Klaus Botzet

Defense Attaché Staff

The Defense Attaché Staff is responsible for sharing information between the US Department of Defense and the German Ministry of Defense. The Army, Navy and Air Force are all represented within the Defense Attaché Staff.

Defense Attaché: Flotilla Admiral Karl-Wilhelm Bollow

German Information Center USA

The German Information Center USA is the Embassy’s center for public diplomacy. It offers a broad selection of information to Americans and promotes greater understanding of Germany through special events, campaigns, partnerships with nonprofit organizations and participation in conferences and major gatherings.

Director: Bernd von Muenchow-Pohl

Administration

The Embassy’s Administration handles personnel matters, IT services, transport and all other day-to-day issues.

Head of Administration: Günter Langenberg