The ceremony for the change of the Institute's commander took place today at the NATO Defense College in Rome: General Lieutenant-General Chris T. Whitecross took over from the air division general Janusz Bojarski of the Polish Air Force Canadian armed forces.
At the ceremony, chaired by General Petr Pavel, chairman of the NATO military committee, were attended by several authorities including the chief of staff of the Italian Defense, General Claudio Graziano and the ambassadors of Poland and Canada.
General Bojarsky leaves his post after three years of intense work, during which the College has achieved significant milestones including the Hybrid Conference and the academic partnership with the University of Leicester, culminating in the celebration, last 13 October, of the 65th anniversary of the college's foundation and 50th anniversary of its resettlement in Rome, in the presence of the president of the Italian republic Segio Mattarella and the NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg.
During his farewell speech General Bojarski expressed his gratitude for having had the opportunity to work in "beautiful Italy" in an environment, that of the NATO Defense College, made unique by the magnificent atmosphere of collaboration between military, diplomats and experts from from several NATO member countries and partners.
The new NATO commander Defense College, Lieutenant-General Chris T. Whitecross, opened his three-year term by stating that he will follow the valid path taken by his predecessor.
Lieutenant-General Whitecross, before being appointed as commander of the NDC, served as commander of the military personnel of the Canadian armed forces.
Founded in the 1951 by an idea by Dwight Eisenhower, Nato Defense College is the center of excellence for NATO training for the Summit in the Alliance and for the promotion and research on all issues related to transatlantic security.
