Norwegian Vice Admiral Louise K. Dedichen being first female to chair NATO Military Committee in history.

Norwegian Vice Admiral Louise K. Dedichen made history in Brussels, Marius V. Villanger reports: not since 1992 has a Norwegian chaired NATO's Military Committee meetings, and never before has a woman done so. On Thursday 28 September, Norway's permanent military representative to NATO, Vice Admiral Louise K. Dedichen, was the first to do so.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

NATO's Military Committee meeting, which is held several times a week, is usually chaired by the Chair of the Military Committee, the Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer. In his absence, Norwegian Vice Admiral Louise Dedichen chaired the meeting (Picture source: NATO)

The meeting, which is held several times a week, is usually chaired by the Chair of the Military Committee, the Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer. In his absence, Vice Admiral Louise Dedichen chaired the meeting. "In addition to being Norway's permanent representative, I have been elected by the Military Committee to the position of Dean. In practice, this means that I am chairing the meeting in the absence of the Chair and the Deputy Chair", explains the vice admiral.

Discussed future threats

October 28's meeting took place behind strictly closed and secured doors at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Information on how NATO's Allied Command Transformation work, to develop the alliance for future threats and security challenges was given. In addition, one of the Allies gave a brief on how they worked actively to develop anti-drone capabilities.

"It is important for NATO to ensure that we are not only relevant today but also tomorrow and in the future. Development happens quickly, and we need to follow that development closely. Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine has shown the importance of credible anti-drone capabilities in order to handle everything from sophisticated war drones to small-improvised hobby drones. Several Allies have interesting developments on the issue", Dedichen explains.

Gathered in Oslo last month

The Military Committee is the highest military level in NATO and functions as a military advisory body to the North Atlantic Council. The Military Committee consists on a daily basis of all the nations' permanent military representatives in Brussels. Several times a year, the committee meets at the level of Chiefs of Defence. Last month, all the NATO Chiefs of Defence gathered in Oslo for the annual Military Committee Conference.

Dedichen and her staff count just over 30 military employees and five conscripted soldiers, all of whom have NATO's headquarters in Brussels as their daily workplace. At the headquarters they share an office wing with the rest of the Norwegian delegation with representation for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Justice.

Defense News October 2023