Retired Lieutenant General Pavel Macko is a defence and security expert with 35 years of experience. He graduated from the Military Technical Academy in Brno. He completed his postgraduate studies in Brno. He is a graduate of the US National Defence University in Washington. He possesses extensive professional and technical knowledge, as well as managerial and command experience at all levels of command. He has held senior command and staff positions at home and in international headquarters. During his career, he was commander of army logistics, deputy commander of ground forces, chief of staff for operations of the General Staff, and deputy chief of the General Staff. He promoted innovative training at home and abroad. He was deployed in the ISAF operation and led the international staff that directed operations throughout Afghanistan. He was also the deputy chief of staff for support to the Allied Land Forces Command and the commander of one of the main components of NATO's response forces, where he oversaw the implementation of a new concept of logistical support for NATO operations. He was the highest-ranking Slovak in NATO structures and commanded the Allied Command Training Centre. He oversaw the preparation of the first two Slovak contributions to EU battlegroups and was also designated deputy commander of the EU Operational Command.