From Monday 27 to Tuesday 28 January, the NATO Defense College was honoured to host the Deputy Chairman of the Military Committee (DCMC), LtGen Mark O. SCHISSLER (USA F), the Military Representative of Poland to NATO (POL MilRep), MajGen Janusz BOJARSKI (POL F), and the Operations Director in the International Military Staff (IMS Op Dir), MajGen Josef BLOTZ (DEU A).
NDC Commandant LtGen Arne Bård DALHAUG (NOR A) and Dean Dr Daria DANIELS ŠKODNIK (SVN C) extended a warm welcome to this distinguished group. MajGen Bojarski had already visited the College quite recently, since he is scheduled to take up duties next summer as the next NDC Commandant.
The delegation was received by the College leadership and Flag Officers, for a briefing on the NDC’s mission and main activities. This was followed by a discussion of current priorities, and of the ongoing NDC review.
After a full and rewarding first day, the second day of the visit began with a lecture to Senior Course 123 (SC 123) by LtGen Schissler. He first acknowledged the NDC’s importance in preparing Course Members for high-level responsibilities within NATO. He then spoke about the Alliance’s current activities and challenges, which he contextualized in relation to an “environment of dynamic uncertainty”. LtGen Schissler focused not only on current developments, with a particular focus on Afghanistan, but also on the future, mentioning the upcoming NATO Summit to be held in Wales next September. Being addressed on these topics by so experienced and authoritative a speaker gave Course Members a rare opportunity to complement the SC content with a unique strategic-level appraisal of current and future trends.
LtGen Schissler was commissioned through Officer Training School and completed undergraduate navigator training in 1981. He served as an instructor, evaluator, chief navigator, executive officer and operations officer. His commands include an airlift squadron, group and wing, as well as two expeditionary air wings. He was selected for a National Security Fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He has held assignments on the Air Staff and Joint Staff, including duty as the Assistant Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. LtGen Schissler, most recently, served as the Director, Strategy and Policy, Headquarters U.S. European Command. He is a master navigator with more than 3,500 hours in the C-130, including more than 500 hours in combat theatre operations.
MajGen Bojarski served, recently, as the Deputy Director of the Military Intelligence Service for intelligence production, and as Director of the Personnel Department in the Polish MoD. He holds a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. (2007) and has completed postgraduate studies in Journalism and National Security at the University of Warsaw. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his professional work, including the International Award for Security Cooperation and Understanding from the National Defense University Foundation, the Legion of Merit from the United States Secretary of Defense, and the Ordre National du Mérite from the President of France.
MajGen Blotz, a graduate in Education from the University of the German Federal Armed Forces and the Federal Armed Forces Command and Staff College, has served in recent years as Commander of the Bundeswehr 30th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, ISAF Regional Commander North (RC-N), Bundeswehr Chief of Infantry, Commandant of the Infantry School, and ISAF Spokesperson. He holds a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy, awarded by the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. in 2005.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Giulia A. Bruni Roccia)
NATO Defense College 
