The NATO Defense College hosts the 69th Anciens’ Annual Conference & Seminar

The event began on Thursday, with the arrival and registration of Anciens at the NDC as of the morning. The first day of the Seminar was a day for reconnecting for the participants, starting with their return to the College, and ending with a reception at Circolo Villa Spada in the evening.

The following morning began with the Association Secretaries’ Meeting with the President of the Anciens’ Association, NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Olivier Rittimann, and NDC Dean Dr Christopher Schnaubelt. The topic for this year’s Conference & Seminar was “Resilience in a Post-Ukraine War Context: What Role for NATO and its Allies?”. The NDC Commandant’s speech and the keynote address delivered by NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mr Mircea Geoană, both expanded on various aspects explaining why resilience is important in the current security landscape, and the panel discussion topics all centred, albeit from different angles, on the issue of resilience. Senior Course 142 joined the Anciens who had gathered for the occasion.

The event started with welcome and introductory remarks by NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Rittimann. He noted that this was the first Seminar since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commandant also gave a special welcome to the Finnish Anciens, as Finland had only recently become a member of NATO, on 4 April. He then elaborated on the title of the Conference: “‘Post-Ukraine’ sounds like the war is over, which it clearly is not and will not be for a while at least. But something else is over: the era of cooperation with Russia, the era of a security environment that seemed predictable, the era of the end of history. That is why both President Macron and Chancellor Scholz used the term ‘turning point’, ‘un tournant dans l’Histoire’, ‘Zeitenwende’, in their first speeches following the invasion. When we say ‘post-Ukraine’, we recognize that times before the Ukraine war will never be again, regardless of how and when this war ends.”

Afterwards, a virtual keynote address was delivered by the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mr Mircea Geoană. The Deputy Secretary General thanked the NDC for its lasting contribution to the Alliance. He talked about working through the difficult COVID-19 period, moving into, as he put it, “the most challenging security environment since the Cold War, with threats coming from many directions at the same time”. “No matter what challenge you can think of, the first line of defence is a strong, resilient society”, he continued. Mr Geoană finally stressed the importance of learning, and of information sharing between different states, sectors and areas of life, in order to be best overcome challenges. “Learning is exactly what happens at the NATO Defense College, so you are exactly in the right place”, he said to the participants.

The keynote speech was followed by a panel discussion with the participation of guest panellists: Prof. Gunhild Hoogensen Gjørv, whose briefing focused on “Societal Resilience”; Brigadier General Mark Comer – “Military Aspects of Resilience”; Dr Nathalie Tocci – “What European Resilience?”; Captain (Ret.) Jukka Savolainen – “Comprehensive Risk Analysis: Awareness of Hybrid Threats as a Requirement for Building Resilience”; and Ambassador Shota Gvineria – “Building Resilience in Cyberspace as a National, Whole-of-Society Effort”.

After all panel topics were presented, a plenary discussion took place, moderated by Colonel (Ret.) Soren Knudsen, with questions from Anciens and Course Members. At the end of the discussion, closing remarks were delivered by Lieutenant General Rittimann, stressing the importance of the main theme of the Conference, “resilience”, and the need to be able to shift from an individualistic mindset to a collective approach in order for “resilience” to be truly meaningful.

Finally, the last item on the agenda was the Anciens’ Annual General Meeting, where the award ceremony for Honorary Anciens was held and a new award category, called “Distinguished Ancien”, was unveiled. Honorary Ancien membership is open to non-Anciens only and offered to high-ranking individuals who have rendered exceptional services to the NATO Defense College and have promoted the College’s activities and interests, and its concept of excellence. Distinguished Ancien membership is offered to ordinary Anciens on account of their remarkable rank, position and contribution to the Alliance or the NATO Defense College.

This year, the two Honorary Anciens were Dr Pierre Razoux and Mr Keir Giles – joining virtually –, and the Distinguished Ancien title was awarded to General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo. As explained by Commandant Rittimann, Dr Razoux was made Honorary Ancien “in recognition of his great contribution and constant support to the NDC as Senior Researcher in the NDC Research Division, and subsequently as an outstanding lecturer on many of the College's courses”. And Mr Giles was awarded the title “in recognition of the outstanding services he renders for the College, as one of the NDC’s most impressive sponsors and supporters, as NDC visiting scholar first, and then, as one of the key lecturers on the College’s main courses”.

General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo was awarded the first title of Distinguished Ancien for his remarkable professional abilities, and as a figure who greatly enhances the image of the College – as a graduate of the 92nd Senior Course –, reaching the highest military ranks, being deployed in multiple high-risk NATO missions as Commander and having been appointed by the Italian Prime Minister during the pandemic as COVID-19 Emergency Commissioner. In his speech, General Figliuolo said it was a privilege for him to have been able to attend the Senior Course and to be honoured as the first Distinguished Ancien. “What I learned here has certainly made me a better officer and Commander”, he explained. He stressed the importance of the NDC’s role in the work of the Alliance, and closing his speech, he dedicated his award to the NATO colleagues who had lost their lives in NATO operations. After him, the two new Honorary Anciens delivered their acceptance speeches virtually. This was followed by a Q&A session with the Anciens and the Course Members, after which the last meeting of the day was concluded.

The Anciens’ Annual Conference and Seminar is a unique opportunity for previous and current Course Members and Faculty Members to network and create new bonds. The Anciens’ Association boasts more than 7,000 members worldwide. Having Anciens in high-ranking national and international positions, with great responsibilities, showcases the high standard of education set by the College.

NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Zsofia Juhasz, HUN C)