January 24, 2012 - In Camp Faouar, the location of the UNDOF Headquarters, on the Golan Heights the formal handover / takeover took place.

Chaired by the Force Commander MGen Natalio C. Ecarma III, certificates where signed by both the outgoing and incoming Chief of Staff to document the transfer of responsibilities. In his farewell speech the Austrian Col Martin Dorfer stressed the great performance of all UNDOF peacekeepers during a demanding year of his tour in the Mission. Full of pride in having been part of an excellent UNDOF team he bid farewell with best wishes to the Mission and its peacekeepers.
The new Chief of Staff, Col Andreas Rotheneder, an Austrian Officer as well, thanked his predecessor for an excellent handover of all the agenda items. His declared goal for his one year tour in UNDOF is to keep up the high level of professional performance of his predecessor. He closed his address by reporting ready for duty to the FC.

Biography

Col Andreas Rotheneder, the new Chief of Staff UNDOF, was born on 15th November 1965 in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. He graduated from the Military Academy as an artillery officer in 1988. In addition to completing various mandatory courses, he attended the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the NATO Logistics and NATO Staff Officers Course at SHAPE, the NATO Operational Logistics Planning Course and the European Security and Defense College High Level Course. He is a graduate of the General Staff and Command Course in Vienna.
Before being appointed as the COS UNDOF, Col Rotheneder had assignments as an instructor at the Austrian Artillery School, Battery Cdr, Instructor for Tactics/Logistics/Staff Duties and thereafter Head of Development and Research Department at the Military Academy, PfP Logistics Officer at SHAPE/Belgium, Head of Department 3 (EU) at the Military Policy Division/MOD, CO of the 3rd Artillery and Reconnaissance Battalion and finally Deputy Head of the Military Policy Division/MOD.