The 10th CMDR COE Anniversary
Date: (31-03-2025)
On 31 March 2025, the family of CMDR COE celebrates the 10th anniversary of the organisation. A gala event gathered together former and present members of the Centre to mark formally the birthday. Special guests of the event were H.E. Ambassadors of NATO States and Partners in the Republic of Bulgaria who greeted the celebration.
Special honours – a plaquette of the Bulgarian Defence Ministry and a certificate of appreciation – were bestowed upon Centre’s members by the Director of the CMDR COE on the occasion of the anniversary.
"Today, we are not just celebrating a Birthday; we’re commemorating a remarkable decade, marked by transformative achievements and sustained excellence. This is an opportunity to reflect on what’s been accomplished and to honour every individual who has contributed to shaping our Centre into what it is today - a headlight of expertise and innovation respected across continents. We are giving our thanks to our present and former members and partners for their support and dedication to the cause of developing the organisation. I am convinced that CMDR COE will continue to grow and develop successfully also in the next ten dozen years," said Colonel Nikolov, Director of the Centre.
In 2025, CMDR COE is celebrating a decade full of successes as seen in the numerous organised educational events, exercises, seminars, conferences, etc. as well as in the establishment of many strategic partnerships.
The Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) is a multi-national NATO military body sponsored by the Hellenic Republic, Hungary, the Republic of Poland, Romania and the Republic of Bulgaria (Framework Nation). The Centre, located in Sofia, Bulgaria, currently has a 40-strong team of both civilian and military experts who continuously tackle a wide range of CMDR-related issues with the ultimate goal of supporting NATO’s standardisation and transformation.
The CMDR COE was found on August 28, 2013 and received accreditation on March 31, 2015 as the 21st NATO COE with an international status under Article 14 of the Paris Protocol. The Centre has granted a NATO Quality Assurance Accreditation Certificate for Unconditional Accreditation (No. ACT/JFD/HCEIT/TT+1548/Ser: NU) and all its certified courses are NATO-Approved as they meet the Alliance’s quality requirements.
CMDR COE provides tailor-made education and training in the scope of its expertise for senior military and civilian leaders. In such regard, the Centre has capabilities to dispatch in place mobile training teams and subject matter experts to facilitate trainings of national and multinational military and/or civilian unit, dealing with crisis management and disaster response. CMDR COE has established an Operation Laboratory and keep on developing both software and hardware standards in support to the planning and conduct of NATO's, Allies' and Partners' exercises and experimentations, including in the creation and validation of scenarios for disaster response. Basically, the using of mathematical models (modelling) to the accuracy and adequacy of the input data (for weather, terrain, obstacles, conditions, etc) provides visualizations of impacts of such events in virtual environment (simulations). The aim is to support the decision-making as well as the planning process and assessment of the emergency plans for reaction and response.
Over the years, the CMDR COE has earned international recognition not only as a centre of expertise in crisis management and disaster response but also as a hub for innovation, knowledge exchange, and best practices within the CMDR domain. Thus, the Centre has forged excellent partnerships and cooperation with key NATO and EU bodies, institutions, and agencies. Presently, the CMDR COE places emphasis on developing curriculum and critical thinking on disciplines as Crisis and Disaster management; Environmental risks; Climate change and Security; Building resilience through Preparedness; Building Integrity; Modelling & Simulation and AI Technical architecture for Decision Makers and Gender Focal Points. Additionally, the Sofia-based COE serves as platform for key NATO events, as well as for numerous CMDR-related conferences, workshops, and trainings.
News
Steering Committee Appointed Hellenic Republic Officer as CMDR COE Deputy Director The Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) successfully conducted its Steering Committee Meeting for the fourth year.
The annual session was held on 25-26 October, 2016 in Sofia, Bulgaria with the participation of the National Representatives from the MOD of Republic of Bulgaria, as a Framework Nation, the Hellenic National Defence General Staff and the MOD of Republic of Poland, as Sponsoring Nations.
» read more
Visit of SHAPE CIMIC Delegation led by ACOS J9 RADM Denis Bigot at CMDR COESHAPE J9 CIMIC Delegation, led by ACOS J9 RADM Denis Bigot, visited the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) on 11 October 2016. The aim of the duty call was acquirement with the specific CMDR COE’s mission, current status, developed capabilities and started projects. They met with Director Colonel Vassil Roussinov, CMDR COE Branch Chiefs and selected experts as presenters.
» read more
The Crisis Response Operations Planners Professional Development Course concludesThe CMDR COE organized and conducted the first five-day iteration of Crisis Response Operations Planners Professional Development Course from 26 to 30 September 2016 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The event aimed at providing comprehensive knowledge related to NATO Crisis Management, functioning of NATO Crisis Response System with emphasis on NATO Crisis Response Planning at operational level.
» read more
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION TRAINING OF TRAINERS WORKSHOP FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SENDAI FRAMEWORKCrisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) devotes efforts to address the importance of understanding disaster management processes and raise awareness of the latest developments related to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA).
» read more
CMDR COE Runs 3-Day Advanced Research Workshop Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence supported by NATO SPS Program conducted from 5th to 7th July 2016 Climate Change Implications on Military Activities in the Balkans Region Workshop attended by participants from 17 nations: 10 NATO countries (ALB, BGR, GBR, GRC, HUN, NLD, POL, ROM, TUR and USA) and 7 NATO PfP countries (FYROM, BIH, BRA, UKR, MNE, GEO and SRB)
» read more
CMDR COE Carried Out Fruitful Crisis Management and Disaster Response Interagency Interaction Annual Conference 2016CMDR COE conducted its fourth annual conference for Crisis Management and Disaster Response Interagency Interaction from 31st May to 02nd June in Marinela Hotel in Sofia, Bulgaria.
» read more
Visit of the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff - Admiral Evangelos ApostolakisThe Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis visited the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) on 1 June. He met with Director Colonel Vassil Roussinov, the Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian JFC Commodore Dimitar Yordanov, and CMDR COE Branch Chiefs.
» read more
CMDR COE Online EventsIn the period May 31 to June 3, 2016 CMDR COE will hold two events - ANNUAL CONFERENCE INTERAGENCY INTERACTION IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND DISASTER RESPONSE 2016 and MSG-147 - 2ND MEETING. Both events will be broadcasted live on the Web. For those who want to join online, below are the links to the relevant events.
» read more
CMDR COE held the Disaster Management Course from 16 to 20 May 2016 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The aim of the course involved the acquisition of basic knowledge related to disasters as a phenomenon, the disaster management process and its close relation to the risk management process, as well as the main players and mechanisms in disaster response.
» read more
CMDR COE hosted a delegation of SEEBRIG led by Brigadier General Numan Yediyildiz, TUR-A, SEEBRIG Commander, May 16 2016The South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) was established in 1999 and is currently located in Larissa. The SEEBRIG consists of six NATO and Partnership for Peace (PfP) nations: Albania, Bulgaria, FYROM, Greece, Romania, and Turkey and has a purpose to promote regional stability and security in South-Eastern Europe.
» read more
CMDR COE for the second time hosted Partnership Realtime Information, Management and Exchange System (ePRIME) Training Course.On May 10, 2016 the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Center of Excellence (CMDR COE) for the second time hosted the Partnership Real time Information, Management and Exchange system (ePRIME) training course. This event is organized by the Cooperation and Regional Security Division, NATO HQ International Military Staff.
» read more
The CMDR COE Mobile Education and Training Team conducted a Disaster Response Operations Course at SEEBRIG HQA Mobile Education and Training Team (METT), comprised of CMDR Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), conducted from 11 to 13 April 2016 a Disaster Response Operations Course at South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) HQ, Larissa, Greece. Thirty five participants from SEEBRIG HQ – representatives from Albania, Bulgaria, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia[1], Greece, Romania, and Turkey took part and successfully completed the course.
» read more
CMDR COE celebrates one year activation as a NATO Military BodyOne year after the decision of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) for the accreditation of the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence, the Centre celebrates its activation as a NATO Military Body.
» read more
Five-Day Crisis Management and Disaster Response NATO Selected Course ConcludesThe Crisis Management and Disaster Response Course took place from 21 to 25 March 2016 at the CMDR COE.
The aim of the course is to provide the attendees with basic knowledge to NATO Crisis Management fundamentals, NATO Crisis Response System, and its complementary elements - NATO Crisis Management Process, Civil Emergency Planning, and Operations Planning, as well as Disaster Response main actors.
» read more
CMDR COE, HQ SACT Host 2016 COE Legal Advisors (LEGADs) Conference in SofiaHeadquarters, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (HQ SACT) in cooperation with the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE), successfully conducted the 2016 COE Legal Advisors (LEGADs) Conference in Sofia on 24-25 February 2016.
» read more
CMDR COE participated in Civil Emergency Planning Work shopMinistry of Interior, supported by Civil-Emergency Planning Representative at Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Bulgaria to NATO, organized and conducted from 17 to 18 February 2016 CEP Workshop: Towards Operational, Coherent and Effective Civil Crisis Response Measures.
» read more
LESSONS IDENTIFIED CONFERENCE FOR EADRCC EXERCISE UKRAINE 2015 TAKES PLACE IN SOFIA, BULGARIAThe Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) in cooperation with the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) conducted a Lessons Identified Conference for the EADRCC Exercise Ukraine 2015 in Sofia on 25-27 January, 2016.
» read more
CMDR COE will lead NATO STO new group for modelling and simulationYou are cordially invited to attend and participate in the Kick - Off meeting of the NATO M&S Group 147 “M&S Support for Crisis and Disaster Management processes, and Climate Change implications”.
This event will take place on 17th and 18th March 2016 at the Arena Di Serdica Hotel in Sofia (Bulgaria).
» read more
Implications of Climate Change and Disasters on Military Activities: Building Resiliency and Mitigating Vulnerability in the Balkan RegionCMDR COE would like to share with counterparts, collaborators and the whole crisis management and disaster response community of interest its first good news for the New 2016.
» read more
Training Requirements Analysis Workshop Brings Together Subject Matter Experts in Lively DiscussionThe Training Requirements Analysis (TRA) workshop for the discipline Military role and tasks in Crisis Management/Disaster Relief was held on 13-14 January 2016 in Shipka Hotel in Sofia, Bulgaria. The workshop was attended by more than 20 participants from eight EU countries (AUT, BEL, GER, BUL, FIN, CYP, POL, ROM) and EU Military Training Group (EUMTG). The Working Group comprised experts from the Bulgarian National Defense College, other COEs, Defense Ministries and EU institutions.
» read more
Second Strategic Level Course Sets Positive TrendCMDR COE has executed successfully from 1 to 3 December 2015, for the second consecutive time a course with the aim of providing Strategic Decision Makers with comprehensive knowledge of NATO Crisis Response Operations Planning.
» read more
Excellent Feedback Received as Pilot Disaster Management Course Wrapped Up CMDR COE successfully conducted the first Disaster Management Course from 17th to 19th November 2015.
During the 3-day course participants acquired basic knowledge related to disasters as a phenomenon, the disaster management process and its close relation to the risk management process, as well as the main players and mechanisms in disaster response.
» read more
Crisis Response Operations Planners Professional Development Course was successfully conductedCMDR COE successfully conducted for the second consecutive time the Crisis Response Operations Planners Professional Development Course from 20th to 22nd October 2015.
The aim of the course was directed at acquisition of comprehensive knowledge related to Crisis Management in NATO, functioning of NATO Crisis Response System with emphasis on NATO Crisis Response Planning at operational level.
» read more
CMDR COE Holds Third Steering Committee MeetingOn October 14-15, 2015, the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) hosted its Steering Committee Meeting for the third year.
The annual sessions are the venue where the Framework Nation and Sponsoring Nations set out all required prerequisites to be provided by the CMDR COE every year.
» read more
Military Attaché Corps VisitThe Sofia Military Attaché Corps has paid a visit to the Crisis Management and Disaster Response COE. The attaches were familiarized with the ongoing projects objectives of the Centre and met with its staff members. Col Roussinov, CMDR COE Director presented the main activities and focused attention to their significant contribution to the enhancing of nationwide capabilities for crisis management and disaster response.
» read more
CMDR COE Successfully Conducted Interagency Interaction Seminar The CMDR COE has carried out its third annual Interagency Interaction Seminar at Boyana Residence, Sofia, Bulgaria in the period 8-9 JUN 2015.
The keynote speakers of the seminar were Mr. Dimitar Kyumyurdzhiev – Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr. Guenter Bretschneider - Head of the CEPOS, IS, NATO HQ, RADM Chris Sadler - Reserve Deputy Director, Maritime Operations U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Col Vassil ROUSSINOV – CMDR COE Director.
» read more
CMDR COE to Launch Third Annual Seminar and Urbanisation Experiment Final Coordination ConferenceThe CMDR COE is pleased to announce the launch of its third Interagency Interaction Seminar combined with the Urbanisation Experiment Final Coordination Conference (FCC) and Experiment Control Training Session.
The two major events are scheduled to take place at Boyana Residence, Sofia, Bulgaria in the period 8-12 JUN 2015.
The Interagency Interaction Seminar will be held over the course of two days - 8-9 JUN, 2015.
» read more
CMDR COE hosted Partnership Realtime Information, Management and Exchange System (ePRIME) Training Course.On May 27th 2015 the Bulgarian Deputy Defence Minister, Mr. Dimitar Kyumyurdzhiev formally opened the Partnership Real time Information, Management and Exchange system (ePRIME) training course. This event is organized by the Cooperation and Regional Security Division, NATO HQ International Military Staff, led by Rear Admiral Emil Eftimov. This course is hosted by the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Center of Excellence (CMDR COE).
» read more
CMDR COE CONDUCTED ITS FIRST COURSE AS ACCREDITED NATO BODY The Crisis Management and Disaster Response Course was successfully conducted from 19 to 21 MAY 2015 by CMDR COE.
The aim of the course was to provide the attendees with theoretical foundations of NATO Structure and Crisis Management. In addition, the teamworks allowed the participants to apply the theoretical knowledge into practice interacting with respective NATO entities.
» read more
CMDR COE Annual Seminar Info PackageCMDR COE is pleased to announce that its third annual seminar for Crisis Management and Disaster Response Interagency Interaction will be held at the Boyana Residency, Sofia from Monday 8th June to Tuesday 09th June 2015.
Three ideas underlie this year seminar as clustered in the shape of three plenary sessions.
» read more
