(AGENPARL) – gio 29 febbraio 2024 NATO Defense College
NATO Defense College
February 2024
Rome | Italy
Press Release
NATO Defense College receives the Extraordinary Spanish Defence
Award 2024 “General Gutiérrez Mellado”
The NATO Defense College (NDC), NATO’s leading strategic educational and research organization, will receive the
prestigious “General Gutiérrez Mellado” Extraordinary Spanish Defence Award for 2024 in recognition of its
valuable contributions to the Spanish Armed Forces. The award ceremony, scheduled for 01 March 2024 at the
NDC, will welcome special guest Ms Margarita Robles Fernández, Spanish Minister of Defence.
This recognition highlights NDC’s pivotal role in the transformative journey of the Spanish Armed Forces, and for
its mission in preparing Spanish officers for senior positions within the Alliance’s military structure. The award
underscores the unique contributions of the College in consolidating creative thinking, cultivating a unified
culture, and instilling shared values among all NATO members.
The Spanish Ministry of Defence recognizes the NDC’s dedication to nurturing innovative thinking, promoting
integration, and fostering strategic thinking on matters of collective defence. This commitment mirrors the
dedication to training and the principles of international solidarity in advancing security and peace, echoing the
values of General Gutiérrez Mellado, to whom this award is dedicated.
Spanish officers and officials have been attending the NDC courses since 1982, with a total of 423 Spanish NDC
graduates to this date.
The “General Gutiérrez Mellado” Extraordinary Defence Spanish Award, comprised of a certificate and a bronze
figure of Miguel de Cervantes, is conferred every year by the Spanish Ministry of Defence to natural or legal
persons who have distinguished themselves either by their work or collaborations in the literary, artistic or
scientific fields or in their professional career, and helped advance the profile of the Armed Forces in the areas of
defence, culture and peace.
NATO Defense College – Overview
The NATO Defense College provides military officers and civilian officials from Allied and partner nations with
senior-leader education focused on contemporary global security issues, viewed from a transatlantic perspective.
The core mission of the College is to provide senior-level education that contributes to the effectiveness and
cohesion of the Alliance.
November 2023
The NDC’s three main pillars and work strands are education, research and engagement.
NDC courses are aimed at preparing participants to serve in positions within NATO, in NATO-related posts in their
respective nations and capitals or in other multinational organizations, by ensuring that graduates have a firm
grasp of the challenges that affect current and future global security and understand the relationship between
NATO and the international security environment. The courses are designed to develop strategic and collective
thinking. To that end, NDC courses provide an opportunity for officers and officials from different countries, and
with a wide variety of backgrounds and experience, to work together in analysing the wide array of factors
influencing the global security environment and finding creative solutions to complex problems.
Historical background of the NDC
The NDC was founded in Paris, in 1951, by the first Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Dwight
D. Eisenhower, who encouraged the creation of a multinational defence college to better educate future leaders
of the Alliance on the complexities of the security environment and to contribute to an effective posture for the
Alliance.
Located in Rome since 1966, the College facilitates better cohesion between NATO countries and strengthens the
partnerships with NATO partner nations.
More information
Postal Address:
Public Affairs Office
00143 Roma – Italy
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