CMDR COE Internship Programme: Young Talent, Fresh Ideas and Meaningful Research

Date: (31-07-2026)

The Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence continues to invest in the next generation of security, crisis management and disaster response professionals through its Internship Programme.

In the past few months, CMDR COE has had the pleasure of working with two highly motivated interns – Dzuliana Dobrancheva and Joshua Witthuhn – whose research projects brought fresh perspectives to topics directly related to the Centre’s portfolio and the wider contemporary security environment.

During her internship, Dzuliana developed a research project titled “Crisis Communication in Disaster Relief Operations: The Role of Public Affairs and the Challenges It Faces.” Her work explored the critical role of strategic communication in disaster response, particularly in engaging with affected populations and supporting operational effectiveness. The research also examined the growing impact of misinformation, disinformation and AI-generated content during crises, highlighting the importance of resilience, media literacy and cooperation among public institutions, private organisations and civil society.

Reflecting on her experience, Dzuliana emphasised the value of participating in CMDR COE courses, which enhanced her understanding of a broad spectrum of topics relevant to today’s complex security challenges. In her words, the internship provided both “practical insights and a broader understanding of the complex environment in which disaster response and crisis communication take place.”

Joshua focused his research on the growing impact of climate change on the environment, resilience, conflict dynamics and humanitarian conditions. His work examined how climate change and conflict can jointly degrade infrastructure, increase stress on communities and reduce resilience in already vulnerable environments. A particular focus of his research was the role of surveillance, data and interoperable systems in supporting timely, informed decision-making by key actors.

For Joshua, the internship was also a valuable learning and networking experience. He described his time at the Centre as “nothing short of amazing” and highlighted the expert support he received while developing his research project, as well as the opportunity to attend CMDR COE courses and meet professionals working across different areas of crisis management and disaster response.

Both interns actively contributed to the intellectual environment of the Centre. Their research addressed issues that are increasingly relevant to NATO, Allies and partners: crisis communication, information resilience, climate-related security risks, environmental stress, critical infrastructure, interoperability and the use of data for decision support.

The CMDR COE Internship Programme is more than a professional placement; it is a two-way exchange. Interns gain practical experience, access to expert knowledge and insight into the work of a NATO-accredited Centre of Excellence, while the Centre benefits from their curiosity, academic discipline, fresh thinking and innovative perspectives.

CMDR COE thanks Dzuliana and Joshua for their dedication, professionalism and valuable contribution. Their work once again demonstrates why young professionals are an important part of the Centre’s community, bringing energy, ideas and commitment to the shared mission of strengthening crisis management and disaster response expertise.

We wish them continued success and look forward to seeing how their knowledge, motivation and experience will support their future professional paths.

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Awarded by the Bulgarian Chief of Defence

In recognition of the exceptional contribution to Balkan Bridges′2019 Exercise, ADM Emil EFTIMOV awarded COL Orlin NIKOLOV and LTC Valeri TONEV.

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CMDR COE Internship Programme: Young Talent, Fresh Ideas and Meaningful Research

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