On 17 July, the graduation of Senior Course 148 also marked the conclusion of Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen’s tenure as Commandant of the NATO Defense College (NDC). After three years at the helm of the College, Lieutenant General Nielsen symbolically handed over the NDC flag to his successor, Lieutenant General Jérôme Goisque, during the Change of Command Ceremony.
Lieutenant General Nielsen welcomed Lieutenant General Goisque to the College, together with the Ceremony’s keynote speaker, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee. Prior to the ceremony, all three of them held an office call.
Following the Graduation Ceremony, the Change of Command formally marked the transition of leadership at the College. In his farewell address, Lieutenant General Nielsen reflected on his three years as Commandant and expressed his gratitude to the NDC Command Group, staff and faculty for their professionalism, dedication and support. He emphasized that Alliance cohesion had been the guiding principle of his tenure, describing it as NATO’s “centre of gravity”. Looking to the future, he expressed confidence in the College’s continued adaptation to an evolving security environment and wished Lieutenant General Goisque every success as the NDC’s new Commandant.
In his remarks, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone paid tribute to Lieutenant General Nielsen’s leadership and the lasting impact of his tenure.
“From the very beginning, your direction of travel was clear: improve the visibility, the credibility and the relevance of the NATO Defense College – and provide more NDC to Allies and partners, to NATO Headquarters, and to the NATO Command Structure. Those were not slogans. They remained your compass for three years, and the College has moved forward across all three of its pillars because of it.”
The Chair of the NATO Military Committee also highlighted Lieutenant General Nielsen’s distinguished career in the Danish Armed Forces and across the Alliance, praising the enduring legacy he leaves behind through “a stronger, more visible, more credible and more relevant College.”
Admiral Cavo Dragone also extended a warm welcome to Lieutenant General Jérôme Goisque as the NATO Defense College’s 34th Commandant. Recalling their long-standing professional relationship, he commended Lieutenant General Goisque’s distinguished service in both the French Armed Forces and NATO, and highlighted the extensive operational and strategic experience he brings to the role.
Since 2022, Lieutenant General Goisque has served as France’s Military Representative to both the European Union and NATO. A graduate of the French Higher Command and Staff Course (CHEM) and the French Institute for Advanced National Defence Studies (IHEDN), he has held several senior appointments throughout his career, including Assistant Chief of Staff J3 at NATO Joint Force Command Brunssum and Chief of Staff of the Rapid Reaction Corps France.
Addressing the incoming Commandant, Admiral Cavo Dragone underscored the nature and importance of the mission ahead: “Build on the momentum, protect what is strong, and challenge what must improve. […] Help NATO think faster, learn faster, adapt faster – and prepare leaders for the world as it is, not as we might wish it to be.”
Following the symbolic handover of the NDC flag from the outgoing to the incoming Commandant, Lieutenant General Goisque delivered his inaugural address as Commandant of the NATO Defense College. He paid tribute to Lieutenant General Nielsen’s leadership over the past three years, congratulating him on a tenure that strengthened the College’s visibility, credibility and relevance across the Alliance. Lieutenant General Goisque also affirmed his commitment to building on this strong foundation as he embraces his new role, leading the College in preparing future NATO leaders to meet the challenges of an evolving security environment.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Chloé Ketels, FRA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN