On 31 January 2013 the NATO Defense College (NDC) celebrated the graduation of Senior Course 121 (SC 121).
The ceremony was opened by NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Arne Bård Dalhaug (NOR A), who had the honour of welcoming guest speaker Admiral Bruce W. Clingan (USA N), Commander of the Joint Force Command in Naples. LtGen Dalhaug also warmly welcomed the Ambassadors of Slovenia, Türkiye, the Czech Republic, Norway, Belgium and Jordan, as well as Defense and Military Attachés from NATO and partner countries, and Italian military authorities.
In his address, LtGen Dalhaug expressed his pride, gratitude and satisfaction regarding Course Members’ academic achievements. He dwelt briefly on the Course’s main highlights, underlining the increasingly high quality of lectures and the opportunity, for students and NDC Faculty advisors, to use Field Studies as a unique means of engaging in fruitful and challenging discussions with key policy-makers. The interaction among Course Members, Staff and distinguished guests constitutes the core of the College mission – the achievement of the human interoperability that will characterize the leadership of the future, and that will enable the next generation of decision- and policy-makers within NATO and partner countries to communicate and cooperate as they face upcoming security challenges.
LtGen Dalhaug then left the floor to Admiral Clingan, whose graduation address was a source of motivation to an attentive and appreciative audience. Particularly inspirational were his remarks on the need to have a courageous generation of leaders in command: current and emerging security challenges are multifaceted and immense, and the approach to security has not only to be comprehensive, but also – and above all – to find its implementation thanks to the vision of able leaders. Only they can possess the will and the courage to decide wisely among multiple courses of action, and to react quickly to sudden changes in the security environment. Admiral Clingan also emphasized that the experience of SC 121 is by no means over, and must be seen as a means rather than an end: the Senior Course is actually a critical enabler that perfectly balances and mixes education and friendship, affording Course Members a priceless opportunity to grow together and to establish professional and personal bonds that will last a lifetime.
Admiral Clingan then joined LtGen Dalhaug and NDC Flag Officers in presenting individual Course Members with their diplomas, accompanied by warm applause from families, fellow students and NDC Staff.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Eleonora Fuser, ITA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN 
