Johannes Peters
Head of the Maritime Strategy and Security Department at the Institute for Security Policy Kiel
Johannes Peters heads the Center for Maritime Strategy & Security (CMSS) at the Institute for Security Policy Kiel (ISPK), where his research focuses on undersea warfare and the broader undersea domain. As a project manager, he is responsible for the annual Kiel International Seapower Symposium (KISS), Europe’s dedicated maritime security conference. Prior to joining the CMSS, Mr Peters worked for the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR) in Hamburg as a director for security policy. He was responsible for the VDR´s position on piracy, mass migration, and the security implications of the Crimean annexation for commercial shipping. He represented the VDR in the relevant bodies in Germany, the EU, and the IMO. He has held numerous presentations at maritime security events both at home and abroad, teaches at Kiel University, and is a frequent contributor to broadcast and subject matter media alike. He holds an MA in politics from the University of Kiel.
Updated: November 10, 2025