From Monday 6th to Friday 10th May, the NATO Defense College (NDC) has the great honour of hosting the Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors’ Course (GFOAC) 2013-1.
The Course will be attended by Generals, Flag Officers, Ambassadors and other high-ranking civilians from countries within NATO, the Partnership for Peace, the Mediterranean Dialogue and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, as well as by representatives of Global Partners and others.
The College takes particular pride in welcoming, for the very first time, a representative from the Republic of Kenya as a participant in this edition of the Course.
Forty-nine distinguished participants from 25 different countries received a warm welcome on their arrival by the GFOAC Course Director Brig Gen Gerd Bischof (DEU F), NDC Director of Academic Planning and Programmes (DAPP).
Designed to provide senior leaders with an environment that fosters discussion and reflection on critical security and defence issues through academic lectures by authoritative speakers, the GFOAC also aims to facilitate group discussion and social interaction among Course Members. This format not only provides a firm basis for mutual understanding, but also enhances awareness of NATO’s security concerns in relation to its interests and capabilities.
The theme of this year’s programme is “Leading NATO into the Future”, focusing on the challenges that the Alliance faces in the current shifting international environment and on emerging challenges likely to become increasingly important for NATO members and partner countries. The programme encompasses several aspects of fundamental significance for the Alliance, such as NATO after Chicago, the importance of the transatlantic link and the changing character of warfare. Course Members are able to take advantage of a solid theoretical approach provided by academics, practitioners and experienced diplomats, who will present major strategic issues and practical perspectives. Implications for the future strategic environment and for NATO will be examined in great detail, with particular reference to the associated challenges for military and civilian policy-makers.
Throughout the week participants will be able to take full advantage of the Q&A sessions and of NDC’s policy of academic freedom, thereby allowing the audience to ask lecturers for in-depth analyses and opinions.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Francesca Blasi, ITA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN