in 1990, after the victory of the democratic opposition of slovenia in the first free elections in slovenia, he got employed at the slovenian ministry of defence. he became head of the department of civil protection at the ministry, later moving to the counter-intelligence section. he participated in the slovenian independence war of june 1991. in 1992, he became the main adviser for international cooperation in the defence minister's office. after 1994, he switched to the diplomatic service. between 1996 and 2000, he served as the slovenian military attaché in bosnia and herzegovina. between 2000 and 2004 he resumed work at the ministry of defence. in 2004 he was appointed as minister of interior in the cabinet of janez janša. after the victory of the left-wing coalition led by borut pahor in the 2008 parliamentary elections, he was replaced by katarina kresal.