Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen
The Commandant
Welcome to the NATO Defense College, NATO’s leading strategic-level educational and research institution. We shape and educate tomorrow’s leaders – both military and civilian – from Allied and Partner nations, including partners across the globe. The NATO Defense College (NDC) prepares senior officers, diplomats and civilian officials to hold positions in NATO, in NATO-related posts in their respective nations and capitals, and in other multinational organizations.
Through development of critical, creative, and strategic thinking, our Courses ensure that our graduates have a firm grasp of the new challenges that may affect our future security. Furthermore, our educational methods help graduates develop human interoperability skills, as well as the networking, negotiation and consensus-building abilities that are necessary to function successfully in a multinational environment.
Our Courses include shorter (one-week) as well as longer (22-week) Courses, aimed at senior-level officers and equivalent level civilian officials, up to and including generals, flag officers and ambassadors. All of our Courses help participants to better understand the complex contemporary security environment and provide them with the latest information on NATO policies and priorities.
All of this is supported by our most recent research. The NDC is unique in that it looks at the world from a NATO perspective, asking and answering: “So what for NATO?”
As such, the NDC delivers education over and above national professional military education.
As the NDC embraces its eighth decade of existence, we will continue to deliver added value for NATO, Allies and Partners by focusing on education, research and engagement that contribute to the effectiveness and cohesion of the Alliance.
NATO Defense College for NATO, about NATO and within NATO.
Lieutenant General (DNK AF) Max A.L.T. NIELSEN, NDC Commandant
NATO Defense College