{"id":14792,"date":"2026-07-16T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/?p=14792"},"modified":"2026-07-16T17:00:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T15:00:44","slug":"ndc-75th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/ndc-75th-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"The NDC proudly celebrates its 75th anniversary & 60 years since its relocation to Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NATO Defense College (NDC) proudly celebrated its Diamond Anniversary on Thursday, 16 July 2026, marking 75 years since the inauguration of Senior Course 1 and 60 years since its relocation from Paris to Rome. This milestone honours the enduring vision of the first Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who recognized that the strength of the Alliance relies not only on military power, but on informed leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep mutual understanding among Allies and partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The arrival of the Chairman of the Military Committee Admiral Guiseppe Cavo Dragone and NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen at the NDC’s 75th Anniversary celebrations.<\/p>

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The arrival of the Chairman of the Military Committee Admiral Guiseppe Cavo Dragone and NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen at the NDC’s 75th Anniversary celebrations.<\/p>

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The flag raising ceremony during the NDC’s 75th Anniversary Ceremony<\/p>

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Chairman of the Military Committee Admiral Guiseppe Cavo Dragone and NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen unveiling the NDC’s 75th Anniversary plaque.<\/p>

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From left to right: (I) General Markus Laubenthal, Chief of Staff at SHAPE, (II) General Aurelio Colagrande, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation and (III) Dr Luisa Riccardi, Deputy Director of the Italian National Armaments Directorate.<\/p>

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Chairman of the Military Committee Admiral Guiseppe Cavo Dragone giving his keynote address during the NDC’s 75th Anniversary celebrations<\/p>

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The ‘Leader’s Conversation’ during the NDC’s 75th<\/sup>\u00a0Anniversary celebrations featuring Turkish Ambassador Tacan Ildem and General Markus Laubenthal, Chief of Staff at SHAPE, moderated by Mr Gordon Repinski (Politico).<\/em><\/p>

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Dr Richard Hooker and Dr Florence Gaub during the Fireside Chat on \u201cWhat Would Eisenhower Say?\u201d at the NDC’s 75th Anniversary celebrations<\/p>

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Dr Richard Hooker and Dr Florence Gaub during the Fireside Chat on \u201cWhat Would Eisenhower Say?\u201d at the NDC’s 75th Anniversary celebrations<\/p>

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Since its establishment, the College has prepared generations of senior civilian and military leaders to look beyond national perspectives and consider the political, military and human dimensions of collective defence. For more than seven decades, the NDC has remained at the forefront of strategic-level education and research, fostering the multinational perspective and strategic understanding required to address the challenges facing the Alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The commemorations began with the arrival of the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, and NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, who were welcomed with military honours provided by the Italian Armed Forces. Following the raising of the flags, the official 75th Anniversary Plaque was unveiled in recognition of this milestone in the College\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Representatives from across the Alliance and partner nations gathered to mark the historic occasion. Among those in attendance were General Aurelio Colagrande, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General Markus Laubenthal, Chief of Staff at SHAPE, Ambassadors based in Rome, senior political, diplomatic and military officials from the host nation and the wider transatlantic community, together with the members of Senior Course 148 and invited international journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The anniversary event featured both in-person and virtual contributions from senior leaders across the Alliance. Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, marking his final week as Commandant of the NATO Defense College, opened the ceremony with remarks reflecting on the College’s legacy and its future direction. The ceremony continued with on-site keynote speeches delivered by Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, and Dr Luisa Riccardi, Deputy Director of the Italian National Armaments Directorate. In his address, Admiral Cavo Dragone reflected on the foundations upon which the College was built, and on the role it continues to fulfil within NATO:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor six decades, this city has given the Alliance its intellectual home, and the Alliance has given Rome a window on the world. It has turned talented officers, diplomats and civilians into strategic leaders. And above all, it has built something no technology can replace: trust across thirty-two flags. NATO has always adapted. Adaptation is in our DNA \u2013 and this College embodies it.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding their remarks to the anniversary celebrations, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus G. Grynkewich, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Admiral Pierre Vandier, and Italian Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto shared video messages reflecting on the College\u2019s legacy and its continued importance to the Alliance. Secretary General Rutte highlighted how the NDC\u2019s work in developing future leaders helps ensure that NATO remains prepared for future challenges, echoing the priorities set out at the recent NATO Summit in Ankara:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe College is the place to train military and civilian officials to become future NATO leaders. A research hub to better understand the complex challenges of today\u2019s world and to support Allied decision-making. A venue to foster lasting bonds between Allies and partners, amongst people that share and promote NATO\u2019s values and interests. In a more dangerous world, we need this now more than ever.<\/em>\u201d   <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the College\u2019s contribution to NATO, Secretary General Rutte also recognized Italy\u2019s long-standing commitment as an Ally, and its continued role in strengthening the Alliance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cItaly is a highly valued Ally. You are a founding member of this Alliance. And since the beginning you have been crucial to our shared security. This remains true today. With your increased investments in defence, your active and innovative defence industry, your highly capable military staff and your valuable contributions to all that NATO does.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Held under the anniversary theme, \u201cToday\u2019s Alliance \u2013 Tomorrow\u2019s Leaders<\/em>\u201d, the programme paired ceremonial traditions with academic dialogue. Following the military ceremony, Dr Richard Hooker and Dr Florence Gaub took the stage for a Fireside Chat on \u201cWhat Would Eisenhower Say?<\/em>\u201d. Together, they brought General Dwight D. Eisenhower\u2019s founding vision for strategic leadership and education directly into the contemporary context, reinforcing its enduring relevance for today\u2019s Alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To see how this legacy meets the world\u2019s current reality, the Leaders\u2019 Conversation, \u201cAnkara Summit \u2013 What Now?<\/em>\u201d, unpacked the outcomes of the recent NATO Summit and their implications for the Alliance. Turkish Ambassador Tacan Ildem and General Markus Laubenthal, Chief of Staff at SHAPE, mapped out the challenges and opportunities on the horizon in a discussion steered by Mr Gordon Repinski (Politico).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The anniversary celebrations also highlighted the College\u2019s long-standing ties with Italy through a unique collaboration with Poste Italiane<\/em>. The NDC designed commemorative anniversary postcards, complemented by a dedicated postage stamp issued by Poste Italiane<\/em> to mark the historic milestone \u2013 with the very first stamp ceremonially franked by the Chairman of the Military Committee and the NDC Commandant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seventy-five years after its establishment and six decades after relocating to Rome, the NATO Defense College remains true to the vision on which it was founded. By bringing together senior civilian and military leaders from across the Alliance and its partners, the College continues to strengthen the unity, cohesion and trust that underpin NATO\u2019s collective defence, while preparing leaders to address the challenges facing the Alliance today and in the years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NDC Public Affairs Office<\/p>\n\n\n

(Prepared by Ms Britt Melinga, NLD C)<\/p>\n\n\n

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The NATO Defense College (NDC) proudly celebrated its Diamond Anniversary on Thursday, 16 July 2026, marking 75 years<\/p>","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":14802,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","editor_plus_copied_stylings":"{}","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[185,3],"tags":[189,196,30],"post_badge":[],"class_list":["post-14792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-courses","category-news","tag-conference","tag-engagement","tag-news","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NDC-75th_Anniversary_2.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Lisa Schumacher","author_link":""},"modified_by":"NDC Public Affairs Office","author_meta":{"display_name":"Lisa Schumacher","author_link":""},"featured_img":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NDC-75th_Anniversary_2-445x250.jpg","featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NDC-75th_Anniversary_2.jpg",2048,1152,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NDC-75th_Anniversary_2-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NDC-75th_Anniversary_2-445x250.jpg",445,250,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NDC-75th_Anniversary_2-768x432.jpg",640,360,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NDC-75th_Anniversary_2-1024x576.jpg",640,360,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NDC-75th_Anniversary_2-1536x864.jpg",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NDC-75th_Anniversary_2.jpg",2048,1152,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NDC-75th_Anniversary_2-18x10.jpg",18,10,true],"morenews-featured":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NDC-75th_Anniversary_2-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NDC-75th_Anniversary_2-825x575.jpg",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/NDC-75th_Anniversary_2-590x410.jpg",590,410,true]},"category_info":"Courses<\/a> News<\/a>","tag_info":"News","comment_count":0,"coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["Courses<\/a>","News<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Courses<\/span>","News<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["Conference<\/a>","Engagement<\/a>","News<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Conference<\/span>","Engagement<\/span>","News<\/span>"]}},"relative_dates":{"created":"Publi\u00e9 10 heures il y a","modified":"Mis \u00e0 jour 9 heures il y a"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Publi\u00e9 le juillet 16, 2026","modified":"Mise \u00e0 jour le juillet 16, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Publi\u00e9 le juillet 16, 2026 16:00","modified":"Mise \u00e0 jour le juillet 16, 2026 17:00"},"featured_img_caption":"The arrival of the Chairman of the Military Committee Admiral Guiseppe Cavo Dragone and NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. 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