2026 COE Directors Conference

The Cold Weather Operations Centre of Excellence (CWO COE), in close coordination with the Supreme Allied Command Transformation (HQ SACT), organised the NATO-Accredited COE Directors Conference at the Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway, from 01 to 03 September 2026.

The NATO EOD COE was officially represented at this event by its Director, Colonel František Mihalovič.

Held under the auspices of the DSACT General Aurelio Colagrande and Deputy Assistant Secretary General Mr Robert Weaver, the conference served as the main venue for promoting interaction between all NATO-accredited COE directors and NATO headquarters, bodies, and organisations.

The event focused on informing participants about the latest developments in the Alliance, discussing mutual support and cooperation, providing a forum for exchanging views, and facilitating networking among COE Directors to increase the overall effectiveness of NATO-accredited COEs.

At the conclusion of the conference, a new Dean, COL Piotr Kwas (MP COE DIR), was elected from among the 30 directors to replace the current Dean, COL Vegard Flom (CWO COE DIR).

Text: COL František MIHALOVIČ, SVK-A