Republic Of Croatia Defense Minister Visits Rider University

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Republic of Croatia Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Damir Krstičević discussed modern homeland security challenges at Rider University on May 21. The lecture was the first event of his official visit to the United States, according to the university.

Krstičević gave an overview of the Republic of Croatia’s homeland security strategy, which was revised in July 2017. He emphasized the need for changes in the country’s approach to national security in light of emerging threats in the past few years, such as terrorism, extremism, interstate hybrid warfare and natural disasters.

“National security in the modern world requires us to stay a step ahead of those who wish us ill,” said Krstičević, a Homeland War veteran, war commander of the 4th Guards Brigade and a post-war deputy chief of general staff of the Croatian Armed Forces.

Krstičević was the chairman of the Homeland Security Council for the president of the Republic of Croatia, served two mandates as a member of the Croatian Parliament and was head of the delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

He is the first Croatian officer to graduate from the prestigious U.S. War College, whose alumni also include Dwight D. Eisenhower and George S. Patton. He was recently inducted into the College’s Hall of Fame.

The attached image of Damir Krstičević was provided by Rider University