Today, the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL) family gathered in the Björn von Sydow Hall to hold the last Staff Meeting for the Academic Year 2023/2024.

The BALTDEFCOL Commandant, BG Alvydas Šiuparis, thanked the BALTDEFCOL staff members for their contribution and extraordinary support during the past academic year. He handed awards to the staff and other relevant individuals to recognise their efforts.

This year, Ms Liis Noorkõiv, Head of the Human Resources and Administration Section, received the Best Staff Member award for displaying BALTDEFCOL’s Values of Respect, Openness, Responsibility and Social as per the BALTDEFCOL Code of Conduct.

The meeting was also connected with farewells for the leaving personnel. It was also the last assembly for the Deputy Commandant/Chief of Staff COL Dietmar Hartung, retiring after 45 years of service.

In his farewell speech, COL Hartung expressed his gratitude and honour for serving at the BALTDEFCOL. He praised the professionalism and dedication of the staff, acknowledging their contributions over his three-year tenure at the college.

As a gratitude for their contribution to BALTDEFCOL, all departing colleagues received a special BALTDEFCOL farewell gift to remind them of their service here in Tartu, Estonia.

As our Navy colleagues say: “Fair winds and following seas!”