On 11 and 12 June 2015, the 45th meeting of the NDC Academic Advisory Board (AAB) took place.
The focus of the AAB is to advise the Commandant on ways to improve the academic, research and outreach activities of the College; to enhance links with NATO HQ and Allied Command Transformation (ACT); and to ensure that NDC outreach strategies contribute to those of the Alliance. Consistent with the AAB’s main objective of providing advice of the highest quality to the NDC, it is composed of distinguished experts from the military, the academic world and related fields.
The Board is currently made up of: LtGen Mark O. Schissler (USA F), Deputy Chairman of the NATO Military Committee and Chairman of the Board; VADM Ignacio Horcada Rubio (ESP A), Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Representative in Europe; MGen Gordon B. DAVIS, Jr. (USA A), Assistant Chief of Staff Operations, SHAPE; MGen Vitalijus Vaikšnoras (LTU A), Commandant of the Baltic Defence College; Dr Rama MANI (FRA/IND C), Senior Research Associate at the Centre for International Studies (University of Oxford) and Councillor of the World Future Council; Professor Theresa SABONIS-HELF (USA C); and Mr Sinan Ülgen (TUR C).
Participants from the NDC were: MGen Janusz Bojarski (POL F), Commandant; Dr Daria Daniels Skodnik (SVN C), Dean; MGen Pascal Valentin (FRA F), Director Academic Operations Division; BGen Salvatore Carta (ITA A), Director of Management; BGen Heinz Feldmann (DEU A), Director Academic Planning and Policy Division; AAB Executive Secretary Dr Jeffrey Larsen (USA C), Director Research Division; Col Giuseppe Morabito (ITA A), Director Middle East Faculty; Mr Vincenzo DiStefano (ITA C), Head Budget and Finance Branch; Col Kees Marselis (NLD F), MA to the Commandant; Col Kent Soebbing (USA A), Head Academic Planning Branch; and AAB Executive Assistant Ms Karin Schillinger (NLD C). The AAB had the honour and pleasure of hosting Commander Jose Henriques, International Military Staff, Operations Division (IMS-OPS NATO HQ).
The AAB provided a forum in which to discuss a range of issues from the academic year that will shortly be drawing to a close: the Annual Report, the NDC Review, the Conference of Commandants of Alliance Defence Colleges, and the International Kyiv Week. This year, priority has been given to the NDC Review Courses of Action and the progress made with a view to recognition of NDC courses as credits towards Master’s-level qualifications. The Board also discussed the activities of the NDC’s Research Division and the NATO Regional Cooperation Course.
Another fundamental role of the AAB is to review and, where appropriate, update curricula, thus ensuring that the educational process keeps abreast of the challenges facing the Alliance.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Michalina Seliga, POL C)
NATO Defense College 