Since October 2023 Mr. Kautz is Director for Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation in DG Defence Industry and Space of the European Commission. Before that Mr. Kautz was Deputy to the Director and Head of Unit for Secure Connectivity and Space Surveillance. In 2020 he was Head of Unit (acting) for Space Research, Innovation and Start-ups. Between 2013 and 2019 Mr Kautz was Deputy Head of Unit for Galileo and EGNOS – Applications, Security and International Cooperation in DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship & SMEs of the European Commission. Before that and since joining the Commission in 2000, he held several positions in DG Enterprise & Industry dealing with a variety of industry and Internal Market issues. Prior to the Commission, he worked for 6 years as public affairs consultant.
Mr. Kautz holds a degree in History and Politics, as well as a Master in European Studies from the College of Europe.