Kai Thurner is a recognised Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Tactical Data Links (TDL), specialising in Link 22. As owner and consultant at Atheniem, he delivers training and consultancy to government organisations and defence industry partners worldwide.
With over 14 years of operational and technical experience, Kai’s expertise was forged during 12 years of service as a German Naval Officer and further developed through leading roles in international defence projects, including Link 22 project manager in German procurement office. His background covers Combat Management Systems (CMS), TDL integration and testing, and multi-link interoperability across joint and coalition environments.
Kai is the developer and instructor of the official Link 22 training course for the NILE Programme Management Office (PMO), ensuring that partner nations and industry have a common foundation in the operational and technical aspects of Link 22. His training approach is hands-on, scenario-based, and highly interactive, blending technical depth with practical best practices for integration, testing, and operational use.
He has delivered Link 22 and Multi-Link training to naval, air force, and industry audiences across the globe, including in Japan, the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Australia. Training has been delivered in both English and German, accommodating the needs of diverse international participants.
Beyond his technical expertise, Kai is also a certified Senior Project Manager (IPMA Level B) with additional qualifications in Prince2 and Requirements Engineering. This dual background allows him to teach not only the technical and operational use of Link 22, but also the project management strategies required for successful TDL integration and migration programmes — such as transitioning from Link 11 to Link 22.
Kai’s extensive involvement in international test and interoperability events (including NATO CWIX and GAF Timber Express) has given him unique insight into both the opportunities and challenges of multi-link environments. He brings this experience directly into the classroom, giving participants real-world context and lessons learned from working with multiple nations, vendors, and systems
