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 20062013, Ambassador S. Ducaru served
as Romanias 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
20002001, Ambassador S. Ducaru served as Permanent Representative of Romania
to the United Nations. In 20012006 he served as Romanias 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 Petkeviius, Director at Weapons Systems and

Control and Communication Systems at Ministry of Defense of
Lithuania
Colonel Romualdas Petkeviius was the first Director of NATO Energy Security
Centre of Excellence, before this assignment col. R. Petkeviius 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
iauliai, Lithuania to chief A4 branch of Lithuanian Air Force. In 2000 col. R.
Petkeviius was appointed as the Director of NATO department in the Ministry of
National Defence of Lithuania. In 2004 vol. R. Petkeviius was appointed to the
position of Defence, Military, Air and Naval Attach to the United States and Canada.
In 2008-2011 col. R. Petkeviius served as National Military Representative of
Lithuania to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. Col. R. Petkeviius 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 NATOs 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 NATOs
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 NATOs 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 NATOs 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
NATOs 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 Franaises), 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 NATOs 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.