The NATO Defense College (NDC) celebrated the graduation of the 145th cohort of its Senior Course during a graduation ceremony held on 31 January 2025. The six-month intensive program culminated in the recognition of 78 senior military and civilian officials from 36 NATO Allied and partner nations, poised to become the next generation of the Alliance’s leaders.
Running twice a year, the Senior Course is the NDC’s flagship course dedicated to shaping NATO’s future leaders by fostering strategic thinking and expanding their understanding of the contemporary global security landscape and the complex challenges faced by the Alliance. Its multinational, multicultural environment provides Course Members with a unique opportunity to develop their consensus building skills and foster collective learning.
The Senior Course 145 graduation ceremony brought together high-profile military and civilian officials such as Ambassadors to Italy, Defence Attachés, along with Course Members’ families, and NDC Staff. This diverse gathering underscored the international significance of the Senior Course and its contribution to fostering collaboration and understanding within the global security landscape.
Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, NDC Commandant, opened the ceremony by highlighting the College’s unique role in convening individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. He stressed the importance of “transcending differences for the collective betterment of our world,” and reiterated the Senior Course’s core mission: “to prepare the leaders of the future – for the future.”
Major General Matthew J. Van Wagenen, SHAPE Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations (J2/J3/J36) (DCOS OPS), served as the guest of honour and delivered the graduation address. Echoing the Commandant’s remarks, General Van Wagenen emphasized the NDC’s vital contribution to strengthening bonds between Allies and partners through shared understanding and commitment to common values. He underscored the importance of cohesion and human interoperability, stating, “NATO’s power comes not from its technology or its weapons but from its people – military and civilian, from 32 Allied and partner nations, stronger together.”
A key component of the Senior Course’s academic programme is the committee work based upon NATO’s committee working group model, offering participants firsthand insights into negotiation and decision-making processes within a multinational setting. Throughout the course, participants collaborate within their assigned committees, culminating in the development and presentation of a Committee Study Project (CSP) to their cohort and a panel of experts. These projects address critical contemporary security challenges relevant to the Alliance.
Following his address, Lieutenant General Nielsen and General Van Wagenen presented the prestigious Eisenhower Prize to Committee 4 in recognition of its CSP presentation on the rise of commercial space and its implications for NATO. This award highlights the exceptional quality of work produced by the Course Members and their dedication to addressing complex issues facing NATO and its partners.
The graduation of the 145th Senior Course marks another successful chapter in the NDC’s ongoing mission to foster collective strategic thinking and cultivate future leaders equipped to navigate the evolving global security landscape.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Chloé Ketels, FRA C)
NATO Defense College