Can you walk us briefly through your career at NATO?
In NATO, I served in both military and civilian capacities. My first NATO position was in 1998 as the Station Commander of one of NATO's Satellite Ground Terminals. In 2000, I took a position in NATO's Maritime Headquarters in Northwood, London, United Kingdom, before moving to the NATO Consultation, Command and Control (C3) Agency in Brussels, Belgium, in 2003. I was mainly involved with satellite communications and deployable Communications and Information Systems (CIS) and I worked closely with Ministries of Defence and industry partners to manage the projects providing military and commercial satellite communications services to the operational community across all theatres of operation.
How has NATO changed over the time that you have worked here, in relation to technology and as a workplace?
The main changes from when I joined the Agency until today are the flexible ways of working and a significantly improved network infrastructure. The COVID-19 pandemic proved that the Agency was able to adapt its working practices rapidly with a secure and highly reliable communications capability, which enabled the majority of staff to access work remotely and continue with business successfully.
What advice would you give to someone who just started at NATO?
Every day brings new challenges. Be adaptable and learn from your colleagues but don't be afraid to bring fresh and innovative ideas to the table. This is a wonderful and rewarding career opportunity with a world-class employer in a truly international environment. Embrace it, respect the different cultures and enjoy it!
