Since 27 January 2017
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy

Since January 2014
Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy

December 2013-January 2017
Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

From 2005
Member of the Bundestag (directly elected Member of the German Bundestag for constituency 186 of Darmstadt, Hesse)

October 2002-October 2009
Federal Minister of Justice

1998-2002
State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior

1997-1998
State Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Labour and Social Affairs of Lower Saxony

1995-1997
Head of Department at the State Chancellery of Lower Saxony, Hanover

1991-1995
Head of Division at the State Chancellery of Lower Saxony, Hanover

1988-1990
Research assistant at the Federal Constitutional Court

1985-1988
Desk Officer in the legal division of the State Chancellery of Hesse

1980-1984
Research assistant at Giessen University

1980
Second state examination in law

1972-1977
Studied law in Giessen, first state examination in law