He started his diplomatic career in 1987 and his many assignments have taken him all over the world. He served as Head of the Legal and Consular Section in Thailand, Head of the Trade and Commerce Section in Bulgaria, Deputy Consul  General in Miami, Counsellor for Political Affairs in Paris and Consul  General in Izmir.  Before being posted to Los Angeles, he served as Head of the Cultural Affairs Department at the German Embassy in Rome.

At the German Foreign Office, he was assigned to the Middle East desk, the Disarmament and Arms Control desk, the German as a Foreign Language division, and he served as Head of International Academic Exchange, also responsible for the Fulbright Program.

Mr. Schneider studied law in Munich and Cologne. He also earned a degree in French literature from the Sorbonne University in Paris.  He speaks English, French, Italian, Spanish and Bulgarian. He was born in Cologne.  He has family in the United States and very much looks forward to deepening the German-American friendship and strengthening family ties.