On June 19 change of command ceremony took place at the Baltic Defence College in Tartu, Estonia, the event was attended by Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas and Chief of the Defence Staff Maj Gen Gintautas Zenkevičius on Lithuania’s behalf.
Maj Gen Andis Dilans who was delegated by Latvia and was in charge from 20116, was succeeded by Brigadier General Ilmar Tamm who supervised the Joint Command and General Staff Course at the BALTDEFCOL before the appointment.
“Your extraordinary experience and expertise has advanced the success of Baltic partnership in military training and more visibility of the Baltic states in the international arena,” Vice Minister of National Defence V. Umbrasas said thanking Maj Gen A. Dilans for the four years as BALTDEFCOL commandant and handed over to him a present from the Minister of National Defence. Chief of the Defence Staff Maj Gen. G. Zenkevičius presented to the formed BALTDEFCOL Commandant the Medal of the Chief of Defence of Lithuania.
In his farewell speech Major General Dilans thanked all countries contributing to BALTDEFCOL activities and professional military education and professional development of military officers and civil servants. Among the achievements he named, the outgoing Commandant stressed the importance of professional team efforts and thanked the academic staff.
About the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL)
The Baltic Defence College is a joint Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian education institution for operational and strategic level officer and civilian personnel studies based in Tartu, Estonia.
The agreement of establishing the BALTDEFCOL was signed by the three Baltic states’ Defence Ministers in 1998, the College was inaugurated on 25 February 1999.
The Baltic Defence College is a joint project of the three Baltic states established with assistance of NATO allies. It is recognised in many NATO countries which is reflected by officers from other countries studying along with Baltic students. Also, Lithuania provides funding for the studies of Georgian, Ukrainian and Moldovan students at the BALTDEFCOL.
From June 2020 the BALTDEFCOL Commandant will be Brig Gen Ilmar Tamm of the Estonian Armed Forces. The former Commandant Maj Gen Andis Dilans of the Latvian Armed Forces was in charge for four years.-He took over from Maj Gen Vitalijus Vaikšnoras of the Lithuanian Armed Forces who was in office from December 2012 to June 2016. In 2004-2007 the College was supervised by Brig Gen Algis Vaičeliūnas of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The BALTDEFCOL Commandants are assigned on a rotational basis by the three Baltic states.
The great majority of unit commanders in the Lithuanian Armed Forces are BALTDEFCOL graduates.
Photo credits: BALTDEFCOL
