Patrick Lurtz — CEO

Patrick is a defence professional with a strong military foundation and over 12 years of leadership experience as an officer in the Bundeswehr. His profile combines operational expertise with a research-driven mindset shaped by an ongoing PhD in Product Development. He specialises in leading complex initiatives at the intersection of operational requirements, technology, and organisational constraints, with a clear focus on delivering measurable capability improvements. His experience spans military leadership, defence innovation projects, capability development, additive manufacturing of critical spare parts, and cross-functional stakeholder management across the Bundeswehr, BAAINBw, research institutions, and industry. He is particularly strong in structuring ambiguous environments, developing robust processes, and guiding teams through high-stakes, demanding situations. Throughout his career, he has: - Led teams in challenging operational and organisational contexts - Managed multi-stakeholder defence innovation projects - Developed process models and decision frameworks for AM-based spare part production - Designed and facilitated workshops, expert interviews, and experimentation campaigns - Advised defence and industry leaders on strategy, requirements, and feasibility He combines strategic thinking, analytical depth, and operational experience with a calm, structured leadership style. Strong mental and physical resilience, along with a deep appreciation for teamwork, underpin his approach. His objective is consistent: enable informed decision-making, reduce complexity, and achieve tangible progress. Focus areas: Defence consulting, capability development, additive manufacturing, complex program delivery, leadership, stakeholder management.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Defence and Manufacturing expert with a focus on innovation and capability development.

Location: Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Experience: 12 yrs 10 mos