Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges 

Ambassador Sorin Ducaru took over the post of Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges in 2013. In 2006–2013, Ambassador S. Ducaru served as Romania’s Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Council.

Ambassador S. Ducaru joined the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993, assuming various offices such as member of the Policy Planning team, counsellor to the Minister, spokesman of the MFA and Director for NATO and Strategic Issues. In 2000–2001, Ambassador S. Ducaru served as Permanent Representative of Romania to the United Nations. In 2001–2006 he served as Romania’s Ambassador to the United States of America. Ambassador S. Ducaru graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest and later the Romanian National School of Political Studies and Public Administration. He has a MPhil Degree in International Relations from the University of Amsterdam and in 2005 received PhD in International Economics from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest.

Ambassador S. Ducaru was awarded with numerous Romanian awards for his service: the National Order of “Faithful Service” in rank of Commander, the Order for “Diplomatic Merit”, the rank of Knight of the National Order “The Star of Romania”. 

Dr. Arunas Molis, Head of Strategic Analysis and Research Division at the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence 

Dr. Arunas Molis assumed duties as Head of Strategic analysis and research division at the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in January 2013. He follows his academic career since 2003 then he started teaching European security at Vilnius University, Institute of International relations and political science (VU IIRPS). He holds BA in political science from VU IIRPS, M.A. in European Studies from Hochschule Bremen (University of applied sciences), and PhD in political sciences from VU IIRPS. From 2010 he works as associated professor at Vytautas Magnus University (in Kaunas), Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy, same position he holds at VU IIRPS. Since 2008 he holds visiting or other appointments at the Tartu University, the Baltic Defence College, Euroacademia (all in Estonia), Bologna University (Italy), Hochschule Bremen (Germany). From 2002-2005 he worked at the Defence policy and planning division at the Ministry of Defence of Lithuania. Dr. Molis has published articles on European security and defence,  energy security, NATO, Russia, Belarus. He is regularly consulting Lithuanian government on the issues related to the external dimension of the common EU energy policy, NATO-EU cooperation in the area of energy security EU integration. 

Colonel Romualdas Petkevičius, Director at Weapons Systems and Control and Communication Systems at Ministry of Defense of Lithuania

Colonel Romualdas Petkevičius was the first Director of NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, before this assignment col. R. Petkevičius held position of Deputy director of Energy Security Centre under Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is currently the Director for Weapons Systems and Control and Communication Systems with the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania.

He graduated from Military Academy in Riga, Latvia in 1990. He joined Lithuanian Air Force in 1992and held various positions from chief engineer at First Airbase in Šiauliai, Lithuania to chief A4 branch of Lithuanian Air Force. In 2000 col. R. Petkevičius was appointed as the Director of NATO department in the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania. In 2004 vol. R. Petkevičius was appointed to the position of Defence, Military, Air and Naval Attaché to the United States and Canada. In 2008-2011 col. R. Petkevičius served as National Military Representative of Lithuania to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. Col. R. Petkevičius also graduated from Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL, USA, and later from Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Al. USA.

He was awarded with The Order for Merits to Lithuania the Cross of Officer, and U.S. Legion of Merit (Degree of Officer).

Dr. Susanne Michaelis, SPS Adivsory – Emerging Security Challenges Division (ESCD), and action officer at SENT (Smart Energy Team) for the NATO military

Dr. Susanne Michaelis, born in Germany, studied molecular biology and obtained her PhD in human genetics. Following completion of her research she joined the European Commission in 1995, as manager of one of the life science topics. In 1996, Susanne took up a position at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, where she has worked for NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, Public Diplomacy and Emerging Security Challenges. Throughout her career, she initiated and managed cooperative projects on scientific priorities in NATO, with a special focus on Ukraine. Additionally she developed strategies and concepts on emerging topics, bringing to NATO extended expert networks, increased information sharing and new partnerships.

Following extensive negotiation, she succeeded in 2004 to include NATO as a partner in the Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative, under which six international organizations coordinate their environmental security activities in partner nations. During 2007 she developed a strategy to improve the communication on NATO’s Science Programme which was implemented through NATO press releases, news stories, exhibitions and video clips. She held the newly created position of Science Communication Manager until joining NATO’s Emerging Challenges Division in August 2010. In her current role, Susanne has been instrumental in bringing together an extensive stakeholder network to advance energy efficiency in the military. The initiative combines research & development, awareness raising and policy making and became the ‘Smart Energy Initiative’. She developed the NATO-hosted Internet platform “LibGuide Smart Energy” and launched the Smart Energy Team (SENT), a group of experts supported by NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme. A highlight of the Smart Energy Initiative was a multinational Smart Energy camp that Susanne set-up with support by Allied nations in the military exercise Capable Logistician 2013. Energy efficiency is now an integrated part of NATO’s agenda.

Colonel Gintaras Bagdonas, Director at NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence

Education:

-Vilnius University, Institute of International Relations and Diplomacy, MA in Political Sciences, 2004 – 2006;-Kaunas, University of Technology, Faculty of Energetics, Engineer, 1986 – 1991;-Institute of the French Language and Civilisation (Institute Parisien de Langue et de Civilisation Françaises), Course of French language, Paris, France, 2007.-Program on Terrorism and Security Studies, George C. Marshall European Centre for Security Studies, Germany, 2005;-NATO Defence College, Senior Course, Rome, Italy, 2003;-Courses on Intelligence in UK and U.S, 2002;-Baltic Defence College, Senior Staff Officer Course (not completed due to next assignment), Tartu, Estonia, 2000;-Lithuanian Army, Platoon Leader Course, 1992.

Employment:

-Security Expert of the EU Crisis Response Team, European Union Delegation to Ukraine, Kyiv, May-June, 2014;-Head of Special Mission of the Republic of Lithuania to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Minister Counsellor, under the subordination of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, Kabul, Afghanistan, 2012 – 2014;-Commandant of General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania, Colonel, Vilnius, Lithuania, 2010 – 2012;-Director Intelligence, EU Military Staff, (interim Brigadier General Rank), Brussels, Belgium, 2007 – 2010;-Director of the Second Investigation Department under the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania, Vilnius, Lithuania, 2001 – 2007;-Promoted to Colonel military rank – 2005;-Deputy Head of Intelligence Division, Second Investigation Department, Vilnius Lithuania, 2000;-Service at the Danish Battalion, United Nations Protection Forces (UNPROFOR), on the Lithuanian-Danish agreement, Croatia, 1994 – 1995;

Colonel Janos Szonyegi, Head at Strategic Analysis Branch at NATO

Colonel Janos Szonyegi is the Strategic Analysis Branch Head at Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, United States. He has been working on NATO strategic level issues for 14 years. Previously, he filled positions both at the NATO HQ in Brussels as a national representative and in several national positions in the Hungarian Ministry of Defence. He held the positions of Deputy Head of Department, Strategic Analysis and Planning Branch Head; Senior Defence Policy Advisor on NATO Affairs; Defence Policy Advisor.

His current portfolio includes the development and implementation of the Strategic Foresight Analysis that embraces the challenges and opportunities members of the North Atlantic Alliance might face in NATO’s military transformation.

Colonel Szonyegi has a Master of Science degree from Budapest Technical University, a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Canada and is currently a PhD Student in International Studies at the Old Dominion University in Norfolk, US.