Martin Pfister
Martin Pfister (The Centre/ZG) has been a federal councillor since 2025. Martin Pfister heads the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS).
Federal Councillor Martin Pfister
Martin Pfister was born in 1963 and grew up in Zug and Allenwinden (ZG). He completed primary school teacher training at the St Michael teacher training college in Zug. He later studied history and German at the University of Fribourg, graduating with a master's degree.
Martin Pfister's professional career has involved roles in teaching and as a research associate. He has worked as a consultant for a number of non-profit organisations and associations. In the armed forces, he last held the rank of colonel and was head of disaster relief for Territorial Region 3. Martin Pfister is married and has four adult children.
Martin Pfister began his political career in 2003 as a member of the Guardianship and Social Welfare Commission in the commune of Baar. In 2006, he was elected to the Zug Cantonal Parliament, where he later became parliamentary party leader and then president of the cantonal Christian Democratic People's Party (now ‘The Centre’). He became a member of Zug Cantonal Council in 2016.
Election to the Federal Council
The United Federal Assembly elected Martin Pfister to the Federal Council on 12 March 2025. In April 2025 he became head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS).
The Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS)
A lot of people associate the DDPS just with the armed forces. However, the department also performs many important civilian tasks. The DDPS includes the areas of civil protection, the Federal Intelligence Service, as well as the Federal Office of Topography swisstopo, and armasuisse, the federal government's competence centre for the procurement of complex technology. Promoting popular and elite sport is also among the broad range of tasks covered by the DDPS.
DDPS facts and figures
- Staff (full-time positions, 2024): 12,279
- 2024 expenses: CHF 6.45 billion