25th World GIS Day

The first NATO GFP course - the CMDR COE and the Nordic Centre for Gender in MIlitary Operations (NCGM) join forces for mainstreaming gender in a military context. 

By conducting NATO Crisis Response System Course from 29 to 31 January 2019, Sofia, CMDR COE marked its first educational event for the year of 2019.

A post-exercise Lessons Identified Conference in regard of command-post and field exercise "SRBIJA 2018".

Colonel Roussinov relinquished the position of the CMDR COE Director to Colonel Nikolov who assumed the command. The ceremony was attended by high representatives from the Sponsoring Nations: the Republic of Bulgaria, Hellenic Republic and Republic of Poland as well as distinguished guests from governmental entities and academia.

State Secretary of Serbian MoD, Aleksandar Zivkovic opened a four-day training for psychologists from the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Serbia called "Training for the management of stress and resilience" and emphasized that the Ministry of Defense appreciates the work of psychological services in all segments.

The CMDR COE conducted its resident, NATO SELECTED, Strategic Decision-Making for Crisis Response Operations (SDMCRO) Course on 26-30 NOV 2018 at Hotel Shipka, Sofia. This year the course methodology was premised on adult learning - a method enabling the active involvement of trainees in the process of learning by encouraging critical thinking, communication, and problem solving based on individual approach and creativity.

On Thursday, November 8, Polish Senior National Representative, COL Dariusz Dobron held National Independence Day ceremony which was dedicated to commemorate the anniversary of the restoration of Poland’s sovereignty.  Ceremony started with historical outline of the recovery of Polish Independence, followed by reception. The ceremony was honored by the presence of Polish Chargé d′affaires Mr Andrzej Mojkowski, Minister Consul Mr Andrzej Janik, Defense Attaché COL Marek Warmiński and COM NFIU BG COL Stayko Prokopiev.

On 24-25 October 2018, the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) hosted an important event – the 6th Steering Committee Meeting.

During the meeting on 24 October, the SC members approved the proposed Program of Work 2019 of the Centre as well as the proposed CMDR COE budget estimates for FY-2019.

Every year in November the world celebrates the International GIS Day to recognize the power of Geographic information systems for enabling a safer, smarter and more sustainable world. The GIS Day provides an international forum for the users to demonstrate real-world applications that are making a difference in our society.

The prestigious event in Bulgaria this year will take place on November 14th, 2018, 9:00 am in Sofia Hotel Balkan. It is organized for 20th consecutive year by ESRI Bulgaria in partnership with more than 30 leading governmental, academic, IT, non-governmental organizations and media.

The CMDR COE was pleased to hold a productive joint meeting with a delegation from the Romanian Parliamentary Committee for Defence, Public Order and National Security, headed by the Chairperson - Mr. Dorel-Gheorghe CĂPRAR, and with the Chairperson of the Bulgarian Parliamentary Defence Committee - Mr. Konstantin POPOV, with the participation of the Deputy Minister Of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria - Mr. Atanas ZAPRYANOV.

The 13th NATO Computer Assisted Exercise Forum (NATO CAX Forum 2018) was conducted from 25 to 27 September 2018 in Sofia (BGR), The venue gathered more than 180 participants from 22 countries, 34 organizations and companies and 13 governmental bodies.

The successful event has been organized by the NATO Modelling and Simulation Centre of Excellence (NATO M&S COE) in cooperation with the NATO Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE).

The Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) is hosting, as well as taking part in the Second Collaborative Resilience Concept Workshop (CoRe WS2) from 10 to 12 September 2018 at Shipka Hotel, Sofia, Bulgaria.

The CoRe Concept development is sponsored by NATO Bi-Strategic Command and is run by the Allied Command Transformation. The CMDR COE is honored to be the host of the CoRe WS2 and to play an active role in the conduct of the event.

The Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence was honoured to welcome Brigadier General Tudorica PETRACHE, Commander of South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) on 28 June 2018.

The official visit of BG Petrache to CMDR COE was conducted as a productive meeting between the distinguished guest and the CMDR COE Command Group, represented by CMDR COE Director Colonel Vassil Roussinov, Deputy Director Colonel Vasileios Palaiologos and Transformation Branch Chief Colonel Dariusz Dobron.

The Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) and the Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Centre of Excellence (JCBRN Defence COE) signed a Framework Collaboration Agreement on June 5, 2018.

The Agreement is signed in order to promote, facilitate and consolidate the cooperation in education, training, research and development, based on the principles of reciprocity and mutual benefit. The areas of cooperation between CMDR COE and JCBRN Defence COE will include but not be limited to joint research and development projects, educational and qualification programmes, joint training activities...

CMDR COE conducted the 6^th Annual Interagency Interaction in Crisis Management and Disaster Response Conference on June 5-6, 2018.

The CMDR Interagency Interaction Conference is an annual event, which was held on June 5-6 in the Central Military Club, in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Conference brought together subject matter experts and various actors working in the crisis management and disaster response domain. The CMDR COE Annual Conference serves as a platform for information and knowledge exchange and facilitates coordination of actions among key stakeholders, both military and civilian, in the CMDR domain. Each year the event addresses specific issues from the latter domain and gathers experts from across NATO Allied and Partner countries.

From 28 May to 01 June 2018, CMDR COE successfully conducted the Disaster Management Course. Тhe course provided basic knowledge in regard with disaster management fundamentals, disaster management process and its close relation to risk management process. Additionally the main international actors in disaster response were introduced and discussed.

The attendees were introduced to numerous topics related to disaster theoretical foundations, disaster environment, risk management, resilience, humanitarian assistance and the role of key international actors in disaster response through lectures, practical teamwork and subsequent student presentations.

The Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence was honoured to welcome Brigadier General Robert A. Huston, Commander, NATO Headquarters Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) on May 14, 2018.

The official visit of BG Huston to CMDR COE was conducted as a productive meeting between the distinguished guest and the CMDR COE Command Group, represented by CMDR COE Director Colonel Vassil Roussinov, Deputy Director Colonel Vasileios Palaiologos and Transformation Branch Chief Colonel Dariusz Dobron.

Recognizing the increasing role of physical and human induced disasters in contemporary and future security environment, the CMDR COE will conduct Disaster Management Course at the Center’s premises in Sofia, Bulgaria from 28 May to 01 June 2018.

The course aim is acquisition of basic knowledge related to disasters as 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.

The Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence is pleased to announce that the 6th Annual Interagency Interaction in Crisis Management and Disaster Response Conference take place on 5 - 6 JUN 2018 in Sofia, Bulgaria and will be broadcast ON-LINE through WebEX. All you need is just to download the application on your mobile device or computer and to write the meeting number  952 555 590

For the first time this year the Conference features three workshops: The George C. Marshall Bulgaria Association and European Centre for Security Studies, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, sponsored Security Capability Development workshop, Modelling and Simulation in Support of CIMIC and CMDR and the CMDR COE-led MSG-147 - "M&S Support for Crisis and Disaster Management Processes and Climate Change Implications".

From 08 to 10 May 2018 a Disaster Relief Operations Course was held at South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) HQ, Larissa, Greece. The aim of the event was acquisition of basic knowledge related to disasters as phenomenon, as well as the main players and mechanisms in disaster relief in order to facilitate the use of SEEBRIG ETF tool in such operations.

A CMDR COE Mobile Education and Training Team is currently conducting a Disaster Relief Operations Course in SEEBRIG HQ in Larissa, Greece. The event is based on a Request for Support from SEEBRIG regarding improvement of the common understanding of contemporary disaster environment, and to better use of SEEBRIG Engineer Task Force in Disaster Relief Operation.

Within the framework of Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and under the auspices of the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE) supported by German Federal Foreign Office, Adelphi, Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria and G.S. Rakovski Defence College organized and conducted Climate Change and Security pilot-course, the first training activity on this topic in the ESDC academic list.

The CMDR COE marked the third year of its official accreditation as an international military organization with a formal reception, which took place at Lozenets Residence.

The event hosted Ambassadors and foreign military attaches; commanders of the armed forces; representatives from various ministries, and from the academia.

From 19 to 23 March 2018 the CMDR COE successfully conducted this year’s iteration of Crisis Management and Disaster Response Course.

The attendees were acquainted to NATO Crisis Management, NATO Crisis Response System, and its complementary elements - NATO Crisis Response Process, Civil Emergency Planning, and Operations Planning.

On 20 Mar 2018 the CMDR COE welcomed its new Transformation Branch Head, Col. Dariusz DOBROŃ, POL A. Col. Dobroń succeeds his fellow countryman – Col. Jaroslaw KUBISZ, who completed his term in July 2017.

Col. Dobroń graduated from the Aviation High School as a pilot in 1984. He became an officer in 1988 upon graduating from the Polish Air Defence Military Academy, Missile Engineering Faculty.

On 21 February 2018, the CMDR COE was honoured to welcome the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats Director Dr. Matti Saarelainen. Dr. Saarelainen met with CMDR COE Director and Chiefs of Branches as part of his official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria.

The CMDR COE Director Colonel Vassil Roussinov presented the Centre, focusing on its current organisation, projects, developed training and education capabilities and strategic perspectives.

The Lessons Identified Conference for the consequence management field exercise “BOSNA I HERCEGOVINA 2017” was officially launched today by Mr. Claudiu Zoicas, team leader at the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) Civil Preparedness Section, by Mr. Samir Huseinbasic,exercise director on behalf of the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and by Col Vasileios Palaiologos, CMDR COE Deputy Director.

From 24 to 26 January 2018 a NATO Crisis Response System Course for national administration experts was successfully conducted. The course was provided in response to a request for support from the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence.

The course aim was acquisition of basic knowledge to NATO Crisis Response System Elements and their effective application at national level.

On 25 January 2018, the CMDR COE was honoured to welcome the Chairman of the EU Military Committee, General Mikhail Kostarakos.

General Kostarakos met with CMDR COE’s Director and Chiefs of Branches as part of his official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Andrey Botsev.

On 28 November 2017 the CMDR COE was honored to welcome the Secretary of State, Head of Department of Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Romania Dr. Raed Arafat.