Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS

The DDPS has the task of developing Switzerland's security policy. The Armed Forces, the Federal Office for Civil Protection, the Federal Intelligence Service and armasuisse are the instruments through which that policy is implemented. The role of the DDPS also involves promoting sport through the Federal Office for Sport and producing geoinformation through swisstopo.

Viola Amherd Head of the DDPS.

Member of the Federal Council since 2019.

Sport is fun, healthy and good for our communities.

Priorities of the DDPS in 2023

Sport is shown to boost physical and mental performance and improve public health, as well as fostering social cohesion in Switzerland. The DDPS therefore promotes sport and exercise and advocates fairness and safety in sport, which are guided by values based on ethical principles. A good example of this is the unique Youth+Sport (Y+S) sports promotion programme, which has been running for 50 years. Every year, it offers sports courses or camps in over 85 different sports to more than 600,000 young people from all over Switzerland.

The aim of promoting sport at all age and ability levels is anchored in the DDPS sustainability strategy. As an employer, real estate manager and consumer of natural resources, the DDPS has intensified its work in a wide range of areas including diversity, biodiversity promotion, disaster risk reduction, climate change, waste management and energy security. In recent years, it has been replacing its fossil heating systems and equipping its buildings with photovoltaic systems. This has resulted in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of a third since 2001 – a big step on the way to reaching net zero emissions, which the DDPS wants to achieve by 2050. It is important to meet the challenges and needs that exist in the present, while taking measures to ensure the well-being of future generations. DDPS – Security for Switzerland.

Expenses 2021 (CHF)
7.61 bn

Staff (FTEs) 2021
12,215

Organisation chart DDPS

General Secretariat GS-DDPS
Secretary General: Toni Eder
www.gs-vbs.admin.ch

Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP
Director: Michaela Schärer
www.babs.admin.ch

Federal Office for Defence Procurement armasuisse
Chief of Defence Procurement: Martin Sonderegger
www.armasuisse.ch

Federal Office of Topography swisstopo
Director: Fridolin Wicki
www.swisstopo.ch

Federal Office of Sport FOSPO
Director: Matthias Remund
www.baspo.ch

Defence sector
Chief of the Armed Forces: Lieutenant General Thomas Süssli
www.armee.ch

Federal Intelligence Service FIS
Director: Christian Dussey
www.ndb.admin.ch

Office of the Armed Forces Attorney General
Armed Forces Attorney General: Stefan Flachsmann
www.oa.admin.ch