2017 European Missile Defender of the Year

Cologne, Germany / April 8, 2017

The Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance held its fourth annual European Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony in Cologne, Germany on Saturday April 8, 2017. The event honored missile defenders from the NATO Alliance for their exemplary service. These service members demonstrated outstanding leadership excellence in missile defense for the last year and directly contributed to the security of NATO and Europe.

2017 European Missile Defenders of the Year:

Mr. Paul C. Enderle

NATO’s Civilian 2017 European Missile Defender of the Year

Award presented by Mr. Peter D. Woodmansee; Chief, Integrated Air & Missile Defense & Program Manager, HQ U.S. European Command


Commander Giuseppe Musolino

Italy’s 2017 European Missile Defender of the Year

Award presented by Colonel Maurizio Pennarola; Deputy Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Program Office and Services at the NATO Communications and Information Agency


Specialist Robert W. Clinger

U.S. Army’s 2017 European Missile Defender of the Year

Award presented by Brigadier General Timothy Daugherty; Deputy Chief of Staff, HQ U.S. Army Europe


Lieutenant Colonel Thorsten Stratemann

NATO’s 2017 European Missile Defender of the Year

Award presented by Brigadier General Kevin A. Huyck; Deputy Chief of Staff Operations at NATO’s Headquarters Allied Air Command


Chief Master Sergeant Günter Rösler

Germany’s 2017 Missile Defender of the Year

Award presented by Brigadier General Michael Gschossmann; Commander, German Bundeswehr Ground-based Units Air Force Forces Command


Major Johan Hendrix

Netherland’s 2017 European Missile Defender of the Year

Award presented by Major General Martin Wijnen; Deputy Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army, Military Governor of the Capital (Amsterdam), and Inspector of the Reserve Personnel of the Royal Netherlands Army


Lieutenant Colonel Brian K. Koch

U.S. Air Force 2017 European Missile Defender of the Year

Award presented by General Tod Wolters; Commander, U.S. Air Force in Europe, Commander, U.S. Air Forces Africa, Commander, Allied Air Command, Director, Joint Air Power Competence Centre


Commander Jonathan Lipps

U.S. Navy 2017 European Missile Defender of the Year

Award presented by Admiral Michelle Howard; Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa


Audio Recording of the Event

Part 1

Part 2

Defenders of the Year