CMDR COE Celebrated 11 Years of NATO Accreditation
Date: (17-04-2026)
This week was significant for the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE). The Centre marked the 11th anniversary of its accreditation with an official celebration attended by senior government officials, members of the diplomatic community, defence attachés, and longstanding institutional and civilian partners. The event reaffirmed the Centre’s expanding role within NATO’s network of Centres of Excellence and its ongoing contribution to crisis management and disaster response.
Among the distinguished guests were Bulgaria’s Deputy Ministers of Defence, Yordan Bozhilov and Zlatin Krastev; Director of the Defence Staff, Major General Zdravko Pehlivanov; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Velizar Shalamanov; and Deputy Minister of Innovation, Borislav Bankov. Representatives of the diplomatic corps, defence attachés, the Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Interior, as well as partners from the business and non-governmental sectors, also attended the anniversary celebration.
In his address, Deputy Minister of Defence Yordan Bozhilov highlighted the Centre’s steady development over the years, noting its respected status as an international institution contributing to research, capacity building, and capability development for NATO, Allies, and partners in both military and civilian contexts. He also stressed that in an increasingly unpredictable security environment, the ability to anticipate risks, strengthen resilience, and think ahead is now a necessity rather than merely an advantage.
CMDR COE Director Colonel Orlin Nikolov emphasised that the Centre’s broad range of activities demonstrates its determination to find solutions to both traditional and emerging security challenges. He noted that these efforts confirm the Centre’s growing importance as a preferred platform for cooperation, extending well beyond formal institutional boundaries.
The anniversary celebration also provided an opportunity to recognise the dedication and professionalism of the Centre’s military and civilian personnel. Awards from the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence were presented in recognition of outstanding service and contributions to the defence of the country, adding a special note of appreciation to the occasion.
Eleven years after its accreditation, CMDR COE continues to strengthen its position as a hub for expertise, partnership, and innovation, uniting nations, institutions, and professionals dedicated to building resilience and enhancing preparedness for future crises.
News
Completed Internship ProgrammeAn intern project on “Social Capacity in Disaster Respond: Enhancing Resilience by Education and Training”
» read more
Awarded unconditional re-accreditation for Quality AssuranceCMDR COE is proud with the received and focused on further challenges
» read more
Building Integrity in Crisis Management and Disaster Response CourseOn the 10th June 2025 , 20 students from 4 different nations started the 4-day long Building Integrity in Crisis Management and Disaster Response Course.
» read more
First Annual Discipline Conference for the Business Continuity Management DisciplineCMDR COE serves as the Department Head for the NATO BCM discipline.
» read more
The 13th Annual conference of CMDR COEPlacing the focus on the arising security challenges
» read more
Successful NATO Crisis Management Training Held in KuwaitThe Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence (CMDR COE), in cooperation with NATO and the NATO- Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) Regional Centre, successfully delivered a Mobile Training in Kuwait from 25 to 29 May 2025.
» read more
Romanian Day of National Heroes / Ascension DayCMDR COR Participation to the solemn ceremony organized by the Romanian Embassy in Bulgaria.
» read more
CMDR COE advances strategic and operational expertise in the integration of Gender PerspectiveGender Focal Point Course at CMDR COE
» read more
20th NATO EADRCC Emergency Management Exercise The Final Planning Conference (FPC) for the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) Emergency Management Exercise "BULGARIA 2025" took place from 20 May to 22 May 2025.
» read more
CMDR COE Plaque to Colonel Prof. Dr. Andrey Galev, MDRespect on the occassion of the 75th Anniversary of the fondation of the Scientific Applied Center for Military Epidemiology and Hygiene (NPCEH).
» read more
CMDR COE Represented in OSAKA EXPO 2025CMDR COE Intern Mr. Can Uyar participated in an Extensive Disaster Risk Reduction Education Program and OSAKA EXPO 2025 BOSAI Summit
» read more
Completed Crisis Management in a Multilateral Framework courseFrom 13th to 16th of May in CMDRCOE was conducted Crisis Management in a Multilateral Framework course
» read more
Successful Completion of the Exercise Planning, Modelling, Simulation, and C2 Systems CourseMain Planning Conference of AMMON SENTINEL 2025 exercise
» read more
Inspiring workshopTitled “Contemporary Crisis Management in Times of Great Power Competition”, 28 April 2025
» read more
Groundbreaking Research on Strategic Narratives in Military OperationsEnd of Autumn Iteration Internship
» read more
Team Building Drawing ClassCMDR COE staff enjoyed the magic of oil drawing in the Art Academy Studio on 25 APR 2025.
» read more
Enhancing Crisis Management Capabilities: CMDR COE Trains Iraqi FEDPOLA Collaborative Initiative with NATO Mission Iraq to Foster Resilience and Preparedness in Emergency Response
» read more
Winners of the contest “One World, One Fate – United to the Future”First Prize: Simona Marinova, 12-year old
Second Prize: Damyan Tonchev, 9-year old
Third Prize: Nikol Marinova, 10-year old
In Support of Multinational Exercise SEVEN STARS 25Veles, North Macedonia – CMDR COE successfully took part in Exercise SEVEN STARS 25, held from 07 to 11 April 2025.
» read more
Panel Discussion “Enhancing National Resilience: Progress, Challenges, and the Way Forward”,Participation of the CMDR COE Director to the third panel: “The Role of Academia in Building National Capacity – Expanding Engagement and Connecting Theory with Practice.”
» read more
Disaster Response and Consequence Management for a Radiological Incident CourseFrom 7 to 11 April 2025 CMDR COE, in close cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, conducts Disaster Response and Consequence Management for a Radiological Incident course.
» read more
Climate Change and Security CourseHot Climate Change and Security Topics will be discussed from 01 April to 05 April in CMDR COE.
» read more
New Continent Reached by CMDR COECMDR COE Successfully Delivers Mobile Education on Managing Contemporary Crisis in Ethiopia
» read more
The 10th CMDR COE AnniversaryCMDR COE celebrates a decade since its accreditation as NATO Centre of Excellence.
» read more
CMDR COE participation to the Energy Security & Critical Infrastructure Protection ConferenceExperts from Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, and the UK met in Athens to discuss energy security and how to best protect critical national Infrastructure.
» read more
Quality Assurance Reaccreditation VisitQuality Assurance Team of Experts from the NATO Allied Command of Transformation carried out 2-day inspection on Quality Assurance standards.
» read more
