On 26 April 2013, the NATO Defense College (NDC) was honoured to welcome Gen. Sir Rupert Smith KCB DSO OBE QGM (GBR), who delivered the prestigious Eisenhower Lecture. There was an attentive and large audience for the occasion: Senior Course 122 (SC 122) and the ninth NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC 9), Faculty and Staff.
The Eisenhower Lecture, which is delivered by a high-level guest speaker twice a year in the framework of the Senior Course, commemorates the founder of the NDC, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. As the most important lecture of the Course, it provides expert insights into current NATO and global affairs. On this occasion, Gen. Smith addressed the audience on “The Utility of Force in an Age of Insecurity”.
To enhance the prestige of the Eisenhower Lecture still further, the NDC was pleased to welcome H. E Christopher Prentice, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Italy. After arriving at the College, Ambassador Prentice and Gen. Smith discussed the current priorities of the College with Dr. Richard D. Hooker. The DEAN then escorted our guests to the Main Auditorium and delivered an
introduction to the Lecture.
Our distinguished guest delivered an insightful and pertinent presentation, providing an authoritative analysis of the current geopolitical environment, focusing on the rapid changes and shifting challenges to which NATO must constantly adapt. This afforded a fascinating and timely complement to the exhaustive academic curriculum of SC 122.
The Eisenhower Lecture was followed by a Vin d’Honneur for the Staff, SC 122 and NRCC 9 Course Members.
Gen. Sir Rupert Smith was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College and later at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He enlisted in 1962 and was commissioned into the Parachute Regiment in 1964, serving in East and South Africa, Arabia, the Caribbean, Europe and Malaysia.
As a Major-General, he commanded the 1st Armoured Division (UK) in 1990-1992, during the Gulf War; in 1992-1994, he was Assistant Chief of Defence Operations and Security. In 1995 he was appointed Commander of UNPROFOR in Sarajevo and, between 1996 and 1998, he was General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland.
Gen. Smith retired from the British Army on 20 January 2002. His final assignment, initially as an acting general, was as Deputy Supreme Commander Allied Powers Europe: he served in this capacity between 1998 and 2011, covering NATO’s Balkan operations and the development of the European Defence and Security Identity.
In September 2005, he published his book “The Utility of Force: The Art of War in the Modern World”.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Francesca Blasi, ITA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN 
