Lecture of Opportunity by H.E. Ambassador Sorin DUCARU

On Wednesday 21st October 2015, a Lecture of Opportunity delivered by H.E. Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, took place at the NATO Defense College.

Upon arrival, Ambassador Ducaru was warmly welcomed by NDC Commandant MajGen Janusz Bojarski (POL F) and LtCol Alberto Alletto (ITA A), Head of the Public Affairs Office. After a briefing from LtCol Alletto on the NDC’s mission, courses and related activities, Ambassador Ducaru spent time with the Commandant and H.E. Dana Manuela Constantiniescu, Ambassador of Romania to Italy.

Ambassador Ducaru’s lecture was entitled “Strengthening NATO’s Cyber Defences”. He discussed a number of issues, including the evolution of NATO’s cyber defences, the 2014 Enhanced Cyber Defence Policy, the role of training and education in this setting, the NATO Industry Cyber Partnership (NICP), cyber in a hybrid warfare context, and priorities for future cyber defence adaptation. The lecture was addressed to Senior Course 127, NRCC-14, MSC 127-3 and IPOC 2015-2, together with NDC authorities, Faculty and Staff. It was followed by an interesting question and answer session, which gave participants a unique opportunity to pursue a constructive and stimulating discussion on several topics covered during the presentation.

Ambassador Sorin Ducaru took over the post of Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges in September 2013. He is responsible for providing support to the North Atlantic Council and for advising the Secretary General on the evolution of emerging security challenges, their potential impact on NATO’s security, as well as the development of relevant policies and action plans; he directs NATO International Staff’s Emerging Security Challenges Division and coordinates the Science for Peace and Security Programme. He previously served as Romania’s Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council, from September 2006 to September 2013. From November 2011, Ambassador Ducaru was the Dean of the North Atlantic Council. He joined the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993, assuming various posts such as member of the Policy Planning team, Counsellor to the Minister, spokesman of the MFA and Director for NATO and Strategic Issues. In 2000, the President of Romania conferred on him the National Order of Faithful Service in the rank of Commander; this honour was followed by the Order for Diplomatic Merit in 2006 and, in 2008, he was made a Knight of the Order of the Star of Romania. He received the title of Ambassador of the Year in 2003 and 2012, from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania.

NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Ilaria Gregori, ITA C)