Mr Thomas Schroll took up the position of Director of the Community of Interest on Strategy and Defence (COI S&D) at Hybrid CoE on 3 March 2026.
Mr Schroll has been a member of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) for more than 35 years. He underwent General Staff training in both Germany and the United Kingdom and has completed several assignments in the German Ministry of Defence. He has also served in national and international positions at various levels of command. His most recent leadership roles were at the Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC), a NATO CoE, as well as at the NATO Mission Iraq and the Luftwaffe’s Air Component Command.
He holds a master-level degree in economics from the German Armed Forces University in Hamburg and an MA in Defence Studies from King’s College London.
“I welcome Mr Schroll to the Hybrid CoE team. Given the constant increase in all forms of hybrid threat activities, including the most extreme forms of hybrid warfare, Mr Schroll’s expertise will add to our overall capacity and strengthen our ability to counter the threat,” said Dr Teija Tiilikainen, Director of Hybrid CoE.
“I’m eager to further develop the potential of my new team and support the use of the expertise accumulated at Hybrid CoE to make a decisive contribution to the Community of Interest on Strategy and Defence, in close cooperation with the Director and colleagues across the Centre,” commented Mr Schroll.
The Community of Interest on Strategy and Defence focuses on hybrid threat activities and warfare, their implications for security policy, the military and defence, and strategies to counter hybrid threats. The overarching objective of COI S&D is to provide expertise and practical support for Participating States, the EU and NATO to foster a common and comprehensive understanding of how to counter and respond to hybrid threats and crises.
Hybrid CoE is an autonomous, network-based international expert organization dedicated to addressing hybrid threats. Its mission is to enhance the security of its 35 Participating States, the European Union and NATO by providing expertise, training and networks to counter these threats. Its core values are excellence, integrity and respect. The Centre is located in Helsinki, Finland.
