NATO Land Component Commander, LTG John W. Nicholson, will speak on NATO, Russia and the Baltics, April 27th from 2:30 to 4:00 pm in Belfer Center Library (rm L369), Harvard Kennedy School.
At a recent session in Berlin Germany of retired US and Russian general officers, LTG Nicholson briefed the military and intelligence veterans about NATO’s operations in Eastern Europe. The ensuing discussion revealed how far apart the two sides remain.
LTG John W. Nicholson, Jr. is the Commander of Allied Land Command (LANDCOM), North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Izmir Turkey, responsible for commanding all NATO’s ground forces in war time. In peacetime, he is responsible for assisting NATO Land Forces with training, readiness, interoperability, evaluations and implementation of the Readiness Action Plan. He commanded the 82d Airborne Division, and was the Deputy Director of Operations/Intelligence Integration for the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) in Washington, D.C.. From Dec 2010 to Jan 2012, he served as Deputy Commanding General for Operations of U.S. Forces Afghanistan and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) where he was responsible for operations, planning and assessments of ISAF’s comprehensive counterinsurgency campaign waged by roughly 140,000 troops. He commanded the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (Task Force Spartan) of the 10th Mountain Division with nine battalions and eight provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan’s Regional Command East. He commanded the US Army’s first Stryker Infantry Battalion and has served in numerous infantry and Ranger assignments.
LTG Nicholson has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in history from Georgetown University, a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, a Master’s degree in Military Art and Science from the School for Advanced Military Studies and a Master’s degree in National Security Studies from National Defense University.
This seminar is off the record and open to Harvard ID card holders on a first come first served basis.
