On 10th October 2013, the NATO Defense College (NDC) was honoured to receive the visit of the Deputy Commander of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy, Major General Sir George Norton KCVO CBE (GBR A).
Lt Gen Arne Bård Dalhaug (NOR A), the NDC Commandant, warmly welcomed Maj Gen Norton to the College. Afterwards the United Kingdom Senior National Representative, Colonel Stuart MacRostie MBE (GBR A), escorted Maj Gen Norton to the Auditorium.
The main purpose of the visit was a lecture on collective operations in Afghanistan, for the Tenth NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC 10). Col Giuseppe Morabito, Director of the NDC Middle East Faculty, opened proceedings by introducing the speaker. Maj Gen Norton then gave a comprehensive presentation on Coalition Operations Doctrine and Theory, covering the history, evolution, character and challenges of the Afghanistan campaign. He stressed the vital role of coalitions in modern military interventions, but also identified and commented on a number of related difficulties. The lecture included an assessment of the current Afghan security situation and a detailed update on ISAF.
An interesting Q&A period followed the lecture. The discussion focused on various aspects of the situation in Afghanistan and the campaign as a whole, including the issue of civilian casualties and the involvement of NGOs on the ground.
For NRCC 10, the presence of so authoritative a speaker afforded rare and valuable insight into the complex situation in Afghanistan.
Maj Gen Norton served on regimental duty in the UK, Germany, Canada, the USA, Northern Ireland, Kenya and Jamaica. At staff level, he served as Military Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the ACE Rapid Reaction Corps, as a major; as a member of the Directing Staff at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, as a lieutenant colonel; and in the Ministry of Defence as Secretary to the Chiefs of Staff Committee, as a colonel. Operationally, he deployed to Bosnia in 1995/96; to Kabul in 2004, as Director Plans and Policy within the Combined Forces Command Afghanistan; and to Helmand, first in 2007, and subsequently in 2010/11. He has served four times in Northern Ireland, most recently as Commander 38 (Irish) Brigade. He was appointed MBE in 1997 (Bosnia); CBE in 2008 (Afghanistan); was awarded the US Bronze Star Medal (2004) and a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service (2011) for service in Afghanistan; and was appointed KCVO in 2013. In July 2013, he handed over as the General Officer Commanding London District and the Major General Commanding the Household Division, to become the Deputy Commander of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Monica Fornari, ITA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN 