On 25 January, the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), General Sir Tim Radford KCB DSO OBE, visited the NATO Defense College for the first time since assuming his duties in April 2020. He was accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Laurent Hurez and Captain Hattie Arkwright.
The NDC Commandant, Lieutenant-General Olivier Rittimann, and Senior National Representative for the United Kingdom, Colonel Jeremy Miles, warmly welcomed the DSACEUR.
During the visit, all took part in a roundtable discussion with the Dean and the NDC’s Heads of Division. The delegation was briefed on the NDC’s mission and objectives. Later, General Radford addressed the NDC leadership and Course Members of Senior Course 141 in a Lecture of Opportunity delivered in the Main Auditorium.
Addressing the audience, the DSACEUR covered two main points: firstly, NATO at the macro level as seen from SHAPE and, secondly, some thoughts on leading change through the implementation of a programme which was well underway beforehand, but which needs to be energized and accelerated as the world is now a different place, with emerging challenges and priorities.
He also briefed the Auditorium with “an explanation of the journey that we’ve been on at SHAPE, in NATO HQ and throughout the 30 capitals since summer 2020” ; a journey that started by establishing a framework of the “4 tenets of executability” – i.e. Plans, Forces, C2 and Authorities – and which is focused on an overall vision.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Benedetta Cavaglia, ITA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN