{"id":14918,"date":"2026-08-31T17:03:52","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T15:03:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/?p=14918"},"modified":"2026-08-31T17:03:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T15:03:53","slug":"sc149-nrcc36-inauguration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/fr\/sc149-nrcc36-inauguration\/","title":{"rendered":"The NDC Inaugurates Senior Course 149 and NATO Regional Cooperation Course 36"},"content":{"rendered":"

On 31 August 2026, the NATO Defense College (NDC) inaugurated its 149th Senior Course (SC 149) and 36th NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC 36). The Inauguration Ceremony marked the beginning of a new academic chapter for the College and provided an opportunity for Course Members to engage with Admiral George M. Wikoff (USA), Commander, Joint Force Command Naples (JFC Naples), who delivered the Inauguration Address.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Admiral George M. Wikoff addresses the new cohorts<\/p>

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Course Members during the Inauguration Ceremony <\/p>

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NDC Leadership during Admiral George M. Wikoff’s address<\/p>

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Office Call between Admiral Wikoff, Lieutenant General Goisque and Dr Nielsen<\/p>

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Course Member engages with Admiral George M. Wikoff <\/p>

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Admiral George M. Wikoff signs the NDC Guest Book <\/p>

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The Senior Course and NATO Regional Cooperation Course are the NDC\u2019s two flagship courses, designed to prepare senior military and civilian officials to address the critical challenges facing NATO and its member states. Through lectures, discussions in committees and hands-on simulation exercises, Course Members broaden their understanding of the Alliance\u2019s strategic environment while developing the skills needed to strengthen Alliance cohesion and navigate an increasingly complex security landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The College\u2019s multinational and multicultural environment provides Course Members with a unique opportunity to develop consensus-building skills and learn from the diverse perspectives of all participants. Both courses encourage participants to think critically and strategically, while strengthening the interpersonal skills necessary for effective cooperation in a multinational setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through an adaptive and agile curriculum places, simulation exercises such as the Negotiation, Mediation and Decision-Making Exercise (NMDX), as well as Field Studies to locations of strategic relevance to the Alliance across NATO member and partner nations, these courses enable participants to apply strategic concepts to real-world challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delivering his first welcome address to the new cohorts as Commandant of the NATO Defense College, Lieutenant General J\u00e9r\u00f4me Goisque underscored the importance of the courses for the Alliance and its future leaders. He encouraged participants to make the most of their time at the NDC by cultivating lasting friendships and professional networks, which he described as essential to the strength and resilience of the Alliance: \u201cThe bonds you forge here are not merely personal friendships; they are the future architecture of our collective security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admiral Wikoff, Guest of Honour of the ceremony, then addressed SC 149 and NRCC 36. Drawing parallels between his priorities as Commander of JFC Naples and the NDC\u2019s curriculum, he underscored the importance of adapting to and addressing current and emerging challenges across all domains of warfare. Notably, he highlighted the need to deepen understanding of the Alliance\u2019s deterrence and defence posture through strategic-level military education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Echoing the Commandant\u2019s remarks, Admiral Wikoff also emphasized the vital role of education in fostering Alliance cohesion. By bringing together future leaders from across NATO and its partner countries, the NDC contributes to building the shared understanding and trust that underpin the Alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admiral Wikoff\u2019s visit to the NDC also provided an opportunity to engage with NDC Commandant Lieutenant General J\u00e9r\u00f4me Goisque and Dean Dr Suzanne Nielsen during an Office Call prior to his address to the newly arrived Course Members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

(Prepared by Ms Chlo\u00e9 Ketels, FRA C)<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On 31 August 2026, the NATO Defense College (NDC) inaugurated its 149th Senior Course (SC 149) and 36th<\/p>","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":14919,"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":[185,103,3],"tags":[30],"post_badge":[],"class_list":["post-14918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-courses","category-editors-pick","category-news","tag-news","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Inauguration-1.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\/Inauguration-1-445x250.jpg","featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Inauguration-1.jpg",2048,1150,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Inauguration-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Inauguration-1-445x250.jpg",445,250,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Inauguration-1-768x431.jpg",640,359,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Inauguration-1-1024x575.jpg",640,359,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Inauguration-1-1536x863.jpg",1536,863,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Inauguration-1.jpg",2048,1150,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Inauguration-1-18x10.jpg",18,10,true],"morenews-featured":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Inauguration-1-1024x575.jpg",1024,575,true],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Inauguration-1-825x575.jpg",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/www.ndc.nato.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Inauguration-1-590x410.jpg",590,410,true]},"category_info":"Courses<\/a> Editor's Pick<\/a> News<\/a>","tag_info":"News","comment_count":0,"coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["Courses<\/a>","Editor's Pick<\/a>","News<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Courses<\/span>","Editor's Pick<\/span>","News<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["News<\/a>"],"unlinked":["News<\/span>"]}},"relative_dates":{"created":"Publi\u00e9 2 heures il y a","modified":"Mis \u00e0 jour 2 heures il y a"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Publi\u00e9 le ao\u00fbt 31, 2026","modified":"Mise \u00e0 jour le ao\u00fbt 31, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Publi\u00e9 le ao\u00fbt 31, 2026 17:03","modified":"Mise \u00e0 jour le ao\u00fbt 31, 2026 17:03"},"featured_img_caption":"Admiral George M. 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