“A History of the Future:” 70th edition of the Anciens’ Conference and Seminar

The NATO Defense College (NDC) hosted the Anciens’ Conference and Seminar from May 22 to 24, 2024, welcoming former Course Members who have attended the College since its founding. This event provided an opportunity for the Anciens to reconnect with their peers, as well as with faculty and staff from their time at the NDC.

The Anciens and Course Members attending the Commandant’s address.

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NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Nielsen and panelists enter the auditorium.

NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen delivers his welcome and introductory remarks.

NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen addressing the Anciens.

Dr Jamie Shea delivers his keynote address.

NDC Anciens and Course Members attend the keynote address by Dr Jamie Shea.

From left to right: Dr Florence Gaub, Head of the Research Division and moderator, Dr Bruno Tertais, Dr Stefanie Babst, and Dr Andrew Monaghan.

NDC Anciens and Course Members during the panel discussion.

(L to r) Head of Academic Operations Brigadier General Molnár, NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Nielsen, NDC Dean Dr Schnaubelt, and Director of Enablement Brigadier General Brizi attend the panel discussion.

NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Nielsen delivers closing remarks.

Dr Baldauff and Ms Politi address the audience during an SC 144 lecture on NATO’s Indo-Pacific Partners.

(L to r) Dr Baldauff and Ms Politi during the lecture.

NDC Dean Dr Schnaubelt addresses the attendees of the Annual Meeting of Secretaries of National Associations.

NDC Dean Dr Christopher Schnaubelt (left), NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen (center), and Faculty Advisor Dr Nancy Vellone (right) during the Annual General Meeting of the Anciens’ Association.

Annual General Meeting of the Anciens’ Association.

In light of NATO’s 75th anniversary, the Seminar focused on the theme “NATO 75: A History of the Future,” allowing attendees to reflect on the past decades of the Alliance and to discuss strategies for the upcoming years.

Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, NDC Commandant, opened the Seminar by reflecting on the relevance of thinking the future, emphasizing the importance of fostering an “imaginaire collectif,” or shared future vision, among Allies to maximize the likelihood of its realization.

Dr Jamie Shea, Professor of Strategy and Security and former NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, delivered the keynote address. He underscored the importance of learning from past experiences, particularly from the war in Ukraine, and credited NATO’s longevity to its versatility and adaptability, qualities that it will need to retain in order to remain relevant in the upcoming years. He stressed the importance for the Alliance to develop a comprehensive strategy to proactively address “all-invasive” and multifaceted threats.

Following the keynote address, a panel discussion moderated by Dr Florence Gaub, Head of the NDC Research Division, offered further insights into the future challenges for the Alliance. Panelists included Dr Stefanie Babst, former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy; Dr Andrew Monaghan, Director of the Russia Research Network; and Dr Bruno Tertais, Deputy Director of the Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique. The panelists discussed the evolving nature of threats and conflicts, emphasizing the need for a coordinated, multi-domain, and global counterstrategy. They also highlighted the importance of maintaining unity among Allies to ensure NATO’s effectiveness in addressing both current and future security challenges.

During the event, Anciens were also given the opportunity to join the Senior Course 144 for a lecture on NATO’s Indo-Pacific Partners (Japan and Korea), examining the challenges and opportunities of NATO’s presence in Asia.

The Anciens’ Conference and Seminar also featured the Annual General Meeting of the Anciens’ Association and the Annual Meeting of Secretaries of National Associations. The NDC Anciens’ Association comprises nearly 9,000 former Course and Staff Members, organized into 23 National Associations. Many of these individuals hold or have held high-level national and international positions, demonstrating the College’s significant role in providing top-tier strategic education to current and future leaders.

NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Chloé Ketels, FRA C)