Brussels, NATO HQ, 10 February 2025 - The Director General of the NATO International Military Staff (IMS), Lieutenant General Janusz Adamczak and the Deputy Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Lieutenant General Andrew M. Rohling opened the annual IMS Day with keynote speeches. Following their addresses to the staff, the IMS Day Exhibition, which showcased the history of NATO IMS, was unveiled.
LTG Adamczak began his address to the IMS staff by stating, "Be it civilian or military, each of you brings a unique skillset to the job. That uniqueness has allowed NATO to stay ahead of the curve, always. So needless to say, all of you have demonstrated to me that - no matter your position or rank - the IMS will continue to be a pillar for NATO." DGIMS extended his warm welcome to two special guests attending the ceremony, previous IMS Director Generals Lieutenant General Hans-Werner Wiermann and Lieutenant General Jan Broeks.
LTG Rohling delivered his keynote address by placing special emphasis on the relationship between the IMS and the NATO Military Committee. "The work coming out of the IMS continues to be crucial for the Military Committee. You are being tasked with giving advice and supporting the Military Committee on a daily basis," he acknowledged. He further added that the IMS is "not only doing it well, but you are doing it at a masterclass level."
The IMS Day Exhibition was then opened by LTG Adamczak, which consisted of historical IMS artifacts as well as panels that illustrate NATO IMS's long history. Not only did the panels show the 58-year history of the IMS, but they also illustrated the people who have made up the body of the IMS over that same period of time. The IMS itself consists of approximately 500 staffers, both military and civilian. The body provides strategic and military advice as well as staff support to the Military Committee, which advises the North Atlantic Council on military aspects of NATO policy. Furthermore, the IMS ensures that decisions made at the highest levels are implemented by the appropriate NATO military bodies.
