On 17 February 2026, the NATO Defense College (NDC) officially inaugurated Senior Course 148 (SC 148) and NATO Regional Cooperation Course 35 (NRCC 35), bringing together 117 Course Members from 40 Allied and partner nations.
Held twice a year, the Senior Course and the NATO Regional Cooperation Course prepare senior military and civilian officials to address the critical challenges facing NATO. Through engaging lectures, discussions, committee work and exercises, participants expand their knowledge and develop the skills needed to strengthen Alliance cohesion and navigate today’s complex security environment.
The NDC’s multinational and multicultural setting provides Course Members with a unique opportunity to hone their consensus-building skills and foster collective learning. Both courses challenge participants to think critically, creatively and strategically, while developing interpersonal skills vital for effective collaboration in a multinational context. The curriculum fosters immersive, hands-on learning through exercises such as the updated Negotiation, Mediation and Decision-Making Exercise, as well as Field Studies to European capitals, NATO entities and other key locations.
The College welcomed back Admiral (Ret.) Rob Bauer, former Chair of the NATO Military Committee (CMC), who delivered the Inauguration Address. As someone who has been intensively engaged with the College, Bauer stated that “it is of unparalleled importance to have a space where Course members can debate, learn and discuss from one human being to another, far away from politics in our different capitals” highlighting the importance of fostering unity and mutual understanding. He reiterated that “if we continue to trust each other on a number of key issues, we can adapt to whatever comes our way, we can expect the unexpected, together”.
Admiral Bauer also received the Honorary Anciens’ Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the NATO Defense College, including his participation in multiple official ceremonies and the delivery of numerous lectures. In his capacity as CMC, he also chaired the NDC’s Academic Advisory Board (AAB) and provided the College with strategic guidance, helping align its academic programmes and activities with NATO’s overarching strategic objectives.
The NDC Commandant, Lieutenant General Max A. L. T. Nielsen, addressed the new cohort, noting that their time at the College begins at a remarkable moment in NATO’s history and in the wider security landscape. He emphasized the need “to stand united, to defend our core values and to safeguard the future of our nations”. The Commandant also highlighted that, in addition to understanding the complexities of the strategic environment, their experience at the NDC is also an opportunity to learn from one another and to build lasting professional friendships. Speaking to Course Members of many different nationalities, the Commandant stressed that“diversity is one of our greatest strengths”. He underscored the importance of uniting rather than dividing, and of choosing collaboration as the way forward.
The inauguration of SC 148 and NRCC 35 marks a new chapter in the NDC’s commitment to developing collective strategic thinking and preparing future NATO leaders, strengthening Alliance cohesion and helping participants navigate today’s complex political-military environment.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Britt Melinga, NLD C)
NATO Defense College