EAG Supports Baltic Defense College Operational Level Energy Security Course

FROM 23–27 MARCH 2020, the Naval Postgraduate School’s Energy Academic Group (EAG) partnered with the NATO Energy Security Center of Excellence to execute the Baltic Defense College’s Operational Level Energy Security Course. The Baltic Defense College (BDC) is located in Tartu, Estonia and is an English-speaking international institution of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania that provides professional military education at the operational and strategic level for military and civilian leaders of the Baltic states, their allies and partners. This was the second time that the EAG supported this event.    

While the course was to be a resident program, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it reverted to a virtual format with Microsoft Teams used as the platform for delivery. While there were many shortfalls due to the virtual format that hampered overall effectiveness as compared to a resident program, the course was nonetheless successful in meeting minimum program objectives.

The aim of the event was to provide participants with knowledge of the importance of energy and energy security in the current geopolitical situation and their influence on military operations. Upon completion of the course, students were able to: interpret NATO’s energy security pillars (energy security awareness, critical energy infrastructure protection, and energy efficiency in military operations); analyze the links between energy and crisis (conflict/hybrid) as well as energy and geopolitics; and analyze energy development and vulnerabilities as part of the new challenges to security and the crosscutting nature of emerging threats in the Baltic Sea region.

The EAG Associate Chair, Mr. Alan Howard, provided lectures on Maritime Security and Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection. Mr. Lawrence Walzer, an EAG faculty member, provided presentations on “Energy in Conflict” and “The Terrorist Threat to Critical Energy Infrastructure.” Mr. Walzer further developed and presented red and blue cell training exercises for participants to conduct during breakout groups, which were also facilitated with the use of Microsoft Teams.
There were a total 21 participants from the three Baltic states, the United States, Australia, Greece, Italy, and Ukraine. For those interested, the course will again be hosted by the Baltic Defense College next year from 22–26 March 2021.

LEARN MORE
Email Lawrence Walzer at lmwalzer1@nps.edu or call 831-656-3777.