We look back on a year full of activities and a year in which the College also underwent some fundamental changes. As an example, we can mention the modification of the Senior Course Field Study from two to three trips and the new Negotiation, Mediation and Decision-Making Exercise (NMDX) scenario, both of which have brought significant improvements and have been greatly appreciated.
In July 2010 the College supported the NATO Training Mission – Iraq (NTM-I) in conducting a Crisis Management Exercise (CMX) for the students of the Iraqi National Defense College (NDC-I).
Further successful outreach activities such as the 39th Conference of Commandants, the 10th Kiev week and the Russian METT visit were carried out to an extremely high standard.
Our Research Division issued some excellent publications on NATO’s new strategy, focusing on topics such as Missile Defense, Article 5, Nuclear Strategy and Cyber. In addition, the Division successfully organized several workshops and the International Conference on NATO – UN Co-operation in New York.
This year we proudly hosted over 45 distinguished guests, including HE Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero (DSG), HE Pieter DE CREM (Belgian Minister of Defense), HRH Prince El Hassan Bin Talal from Jordan, Admiral Giampaolo DI PAOLA (CMC), Admiral James STAVRIDIS (SACEUR) and General Stéphane ABRIAL (SACT).
Last but not least, we welcome the NDC Foundation as an independent establishment to support a range of College activities such as seminars and possible hosting of research fellows from NATO countries.
The coming year, 2011, will be special for the NATO Defense College as it will mark the 60th anniversary of its foundation. In May 2011 we will celebrate this event together with the highest political and military authorities representing NATO and the Allied Countries.
All in all, we can confidently say that it was a year of success and I personally want to thank all of you for your support and dedication throughout the year. And I am confident that we will continue to work with great success in the year ahead.
I wish all of you and your families restful days and a safe return for the start of 2011.
Wolf-Dieter LOESER Lieutenant General, German Army, NDC Commandant
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN