On 26 January 2024, Senior Course 143 graduated from the NATO Defense College.
The Graduation Ceremony marked the conclusion of a 22-week academic programme, attended by 82 Course Members from 34 Nations. The programme comprised expert-led lectures, Committee work, 3 Field Studies to NATO and partner countries, 2 Negotiation Exercises, among other educational and cultural events.
As the flagship course of the NATO Defense College, the Senior Course is focused on cultivating the future leaders of Allied and partner countries, to broaden their knowledge and understanding on the contemporary global geopolitical security landscape and key NATO-related topics. In the unique, diverse and multicultural setting offered at the NDC, the academic programme focused on honing skills in strategic thinking and consensus-building, equipping Course Members with essential skills to contribute to the Alliance’s effectiveness.
Senior Course 143 worked efficiently to achieve excellent results during their time at the NDC. As the Commandant of the NATO Defense College, Lieutenant General Max A.L.T Nielsen said, “You have displayed a passion for learning; a commitment to strategic thinking; and the cultivation of a risk-informed mindset. Your collaborative efforts, attention to detail, and consensus-building skills set a high standard for effective leadership.”
The guest speaker H.E. Mr Martin Briens, Ambassador of France to Italy added that, “for the past 6 months you have thought deeply about security challenges facing our Alliance and more broadly our world. I know that the quality of the academic activities and lecturers have been able to leave you with a clear vision of the missions that await you for your future assignments.”
Course Members explored the political-military strategic interface that allows them to grasp the complexities of the global security environment. As the Course President, Colonel Pierrick Michel, and the Vice-President, Ms Ozlem Sayin, stated during their speech, “Our field studies enabled us to see this challenge at the political-military strategic interface, while highlighting the broader 360-degree challenges from the Middle East and North Africa, the Arctic and the High North. Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remains the most direct asymmetric threat to our security and international peace and prosperity. The broader geo-political security challenges affect NATO, but also our Allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. Undoubtedly, the global security environment was the primary driver that forced us to look deeper at any particular topic, to increase our horizons and to challenge each other and our lecturers.”
During the ceremony, the Eisenhower Prize was awarded to Committee 7, recognizing their Committee Study Project, a research project that reflects months of group discussions and dedicated teamwork in Committees. Subsequently, the NDC Dean, Dr Christopher M. Schnaubelt and guest speaker H.E Mr Martin Briens presented the diplomas to all the graduates, marking the formal conclusion of Senior Course 143.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Sofia Carvalheiro, PRT C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN