Upon completion of his remarks, General Vollmer officially presented the following awards:
NATO Meritorious Service Medal – Operations:
•Major Philippe Stuyts, Belgium.
•Commander Rudy Medina, United States of America.
•Senior Master Sergeant Kai Sasse, Germany.
NATO Meritorious Service Medal – Non-Operations:
•Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Kleffner, Germany.
•Warrant Officer Ian Robinson, Great Britain, was presented his ‘NATO Meritorious Service Medal – Non-operational’ 11 December as he could not attend today’s ceremony.
Note: The NATO Meritorious Service Medal is the highest NATO medal awarded by the NATO Secretary General to a select number of military and civilian personnel serving under NATO command and control. The medal is awarded for recognition of distinguished and outstanding service to the Alliance.
SACEUR recognition award:
•Lieutenant Colonel Markus Homberg, Germany.
Note: The SACEUR Recognition Award was established in order to recognise exceptional service and outstanding individual achievement in a way that may be career enhancing for the recipient.

The Commanders’ Group Commendation to the Austere Challenge 2021 Core Team comprising:
•Captain Micah Maxwell, United States of America.
•Colonel Kyle Bayless, United States of America.
•Commander Randy Conant, United States of America.
•Commander Miguel Bravo Garcia, Spain.
•Lieutenant Colonel Peter Piette, The Netherlands.
•Major Patrick Coeck, Belgium.
•Lieutenant Commander Kim Poirrier, Canada.
•Major David Lebel, Canada.
•Mr. David Foldy, United States of America.
The Commanders’ Commendation:
•Colonel Guido Bottacchiari, Italy.
•Major Davey De Leenheer, Belgium.
•Flight Lieutenant Ben Dunkley, Great Britain.
•Oberfeldarzt Birte Edeler, Germany.
•Major Antonio Ferrandez, Spain.
•Flight Lieutenant Toby Foote, Great Britain.
•Warrant Officer Marc-André Gaudreault, Canada.
•Colonel Ludo Helsen, Belgium.
•Flight Sergeant Colin Lester, Great Britain.
•Master Sergeant André Lopes Antonio, Germany.
•Major Clint Ormond, United States of America.
•Master Sergeant Juan Pineda, United States of America.
•Mr. Ryszard Rokita, Poland.
•Mr. David Russell, Great Britain.
•Ms. Sally Trickett, Great Britain.
•Lieutenant Colonel Roberto Vergari, Italy.
•Major Simon Vinken, The Netherlands.
The following were not able to attend today’s ceremony and will be presented their awards at a later date:
The Commanders’ Commendation:
•Staff Sergeant Håvard Heksestad, Norway.
•Lieutenant Commander Kim Poirrier, Canada.
•Lieutenant Colonel Dimitrios Rizoudis, Greece.
•Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Siedenhans, Germany.
