Today at the NATO Defense College in Rome, in his first address as Inauguration Speaker, Admiral James STAVRIDIS, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, extended a warm welcome to Senior Course 117.
SACEUR was cordially received by Lieutenant General Wolf-Dieter LOESER, Commandant of the NATO Defense College. In his opening remarks, Lieutenant General LOESER reminded Course Members of the increasing complexity and challenges the Alliance will face, and of the importance of the Senior Course in educating its members involved in the security process to meet NATO’s current challenges.
Admiral STAVRIDIS initiated his address by congratulating the Course Members on having been selected to attend Senior Course 117, an opportunity which would enrich their careers.
SACEUR’s Inauguration Address focused on the fundamental processes and conceptual concerns that underlie the security environment in the 21st century and highlighted the importance of strategic communication and the significance of a comprehensive approach in terms of a civil – military cooperation.
For the Alliance to succeed, he said, it was essential for NATO to develop stronger synergy with other key actors, both governmental and non-governmental, worldwide.
Among the current challenges NATO is facing are the threat of increasing cyber- crime, the dangers of non-conventional weapons, piracy, terrorism and widespread drug trafficking. As well as combating these threats, the Alliance must also deal with the military operations in Afghanistan and develop enhanced relations with Russia.
In the subsequent Q&A session, the Course Members were given the opportunity to ask questions and this gave rise to a lively debate during which they demonstrated their interest in the issues that had been discussed.
The Senior Course is considered the College’s core mission. The aim of the six-month course is to prepare the Course Members (senior officers and equivalent rank civilian officials) for senior NATO positions by a focusing on specific trends in the evolution of the international security environment and their significance for the Alliance.
In Course 117, the NDC is proud to host 78 Course Members from 30 NATO, PfP, Mediterranean Dialogue and ICI countries.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Valerie Kasseckert, DEU C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN 
