Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman inaugurated on Monday the National Defense University, formerly the Saudi Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by several senior Saudi officials, including Chief of the General Staff Gen. Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili, who said the university was the crowning achievement of the process of developing the Defense Ministry.
The university will help support the capabilities of the national security system through professional military education.
The Defense Ministry will continue to forge ahead in implementing the directives of the Saudi leadership in line with Saudi Vision 2030, added Al-Ruwaili.
It will continue to modernize military education institutions and invest in human capital, which are the cornerstones of the Defense Ministry to achieve cohesion with the other national forces, he went on to say.
The inauguration of the university will "pave the way for a new phase and professional military education in the Kingdom."
It will work as a research hub to support decisions and resolve problems and provide high level services to society according to the best standards, stressed Al-Ruwaili.
The National Defense University aims to achieve academic and professional excellence, qualify professional national security cadres and carry out scientific research in national defense and security. It will also organize cultural and awareness events related to national security.
The Saudi Armed Forces Command and Staff College boasts a rich history dating back to 1958, when it was established as "the institute of great officers". Its mission was to train and qualify Saudi Arabian Army officers for command and staff duties.
Over the years, the institute underwent several name changes: "the institute of senior officers" and "the Saudi command and staff college", reflecting its evolving role and expanding scope.
For over six decades, the Armed Forces Command and Staff College played a pivotal role in shaping military thought in Saudi Arabia, under the slogan "Science, Thought, Planning". It has provided military education and training to a distinguished group of officers from the Saudi Armed Forces, other military and security sectors, and from other nations.
