1975–1980: Studied aerospace engineering at the Technical University of Berlin,

Research assistant there from 1980 to 1985.

1985–2005 MBB/Airbus, member of the executive committee, co-founder of the Bremen High-Lift Center.

2006–2010: Full Professor and Director of the Institute for Aerospace Engineering (ILR) at RWTH Aachen University.

2010–2020: Member of the Executive Board at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), responsible for the aviation program.

2015–2022: Member of the ACARE Chair Team.

Since 2021, has served as a consultant for national and European aviation research initiatives,

State Aviation Coordinator for the state of Bremen since 2021.

2013–2021 President of the German Society for Aeronautics and Astronautics (DGLR).