Hans Atzpodien, who is a trained lawyer, but also has a university degree in political science, took up the position of Managing Director of the Federation of the German Security and Defence Industries on 1st August 2017.

Prior to this, starting 2001, he held various divisional board functions in the thyssenkrupp Group, from 2013 as Chairman of the Executive Board/CEO of thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions AG. In 2007, Hans Atzpodien had taken over as CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, to which he remained associated as Chairman of the Supervisory Board from 2013 until the end of 2016. Hans Atzpodien was also one of the founders of the BDSV in 2009, of which he was a Board member until 2016, including one year (2013/2014) as President of the association.