Visiting Senior Mentor Conference held

On 15 April the BALTDEFCOL hosted its 2nd Visiting Senior Mentors (VSMs) Conference. The first conference was held in spring 2009 and will be held annually.

The VSMs had two days of discussions with the BALTDEFCOL Commandant, Dean and Course Directors. The VSMs who are highly experienced in the military sphere were briefed on the BALTDEFCOL courses of HCSC, JCGSC and CSC, course developments and course plans. Conference of the VSMs provided a chance for the VSMs to be briefed also on the BALTDEFCOL academic and research program. The main emphasis of the conference was on discussing the way ahead with the courses. Through constructive discussions between the BALTDEFCOL Management and the VSMs ways how to improve and/or modify the curricula were examined. 

Among the VSMs are many old friends of the BALTDEFCOL to include officers of long NATO service such as lieutenant General Jan Scharling (ret.), retired, General Sir Jack Deverell of the British Army, Rear Admiral (ret.) Richard Jaskot; and General Hans Jesper Helso. The senior civilian visitors were Professor Peter Foot of the Geneva Institute for Security Studies and Dr Mark Conversino, Dean of the US Air Force Air War College. Dr Conversino, a leading civilian defence academic in the United States, made his first visit to the BALTDEFCOL as a new VSM.

The VSMs are senior military officers, usually retired officers, and senior civilian academics who regularly lecture at the BALTDEFCOL and participate in exercises The VSMs have become close friends of the college over the years and the College appreciates the warm and wholehearted support of its VSMs.