On March 20, 2007, the Marshall Center Graduate Support Office, in partnership with the Italian Armed Forces Centro Allti Studi Difesa (“CASD”; English translation: Center for Higher Defense Studies) and with the support of U.S. Embassy Rome, organized and co-hosted a conference, focused on Marshall Center graduates from Italy and international graduates presently assigned to Italy. The two prominent topics for the event included “Transatlantic Relations”, with European, U.S. and academic perspectives; and “NATO: Is it Time for a New Strategic Concept?” The conference was attended by approximately 70 people, including about 15 Marshall Center Graduates from Italy, France, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, and the United States, as well as Italian and international officers attending the CASD.

Click to enlarge From l-r, before the start of the conference, Mr. Rick Steinke, Chief of the Graduate Support Program; Ms. Elizabeth Rosenstock-Siller, Political Officer, U.S. Embassy Rome; Dr. John Rose, Director, Marshall Center; LTG Giuseppe Valotto, Director, CASD; and LTG Giovanni Ridino, EP 1997-2.	Click to enlarge LTG Giuseppe Valotto (right), CASD Director, opens the conference while Marshall Center Director, Dr. John Rose, looks on.	Click to enlarge Rear Admiral Alberto Cervone, SES 2005-5, 2006-6, served as the principal moderator for day’s presentations and discussions
Click to enlarge Dr. Andrew Michta (far right), Marshall Center Professor, provides an academic perspective on Transatlantic Relations. Seated with him are (r to l) Dr. Francois Heisbourg, Geneva Center for Security Policy, and Mr. Jonathan Cohen, Political-Military Counselor, U.S. Embassy Rome.	Click to enlarge Conference attendees listen attentively to the speakers.	Click to enlarge (l to r) Mr. John Kriendler, Marshall Center Professor; Dr. Graeme Herd, Professor, Geneva Centre for Security Policy; and Mr. Jonathan Cohen meet during the conference break.
Click to enlarge MG Giovanni Marizza, SES 2003-6; BG (Ret) Piero Lucchetti, SES 2003-4; and BG Paolo Mazzi, EP 1995-1, listen to the Graduate Support Briefing by Mr. Steinke.	Click to enlarge BG Klaus Wittmann, NATO Defense College, Prof. John Kriendler and Dr. Rose speaking during the afternoon break. BG Klaus Wittmann provided a presentation to seminar participants on NATO entitled “Developing a Common Vision: Is it Time for a New Strategic Concept?”	Click to enlarge Mr. Rick Steinke, who once served as an exchange officer in an Italian Army “Alpini” battalion, poses with his former battalion commander and Marshall Center graduate, MG Giovanni Marizza, SES 2003-6.
Click to enlarge Marshall Center graduates and conference participants flank Dr. Rose and LTG Valotto for a group photo.	Click to enlarge LTG Giuseppe Valotto, CASD Director, presents the CASD crest to Dr. Rose to conclude the day’s excellent conference.