The meeting was officially opened by Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, and co-chaired by the Commandant of the NDC, Lieutenant General Olivier Rittimann. In his opening remarks, the Admiral stressed the importance of the work and research done by academics and researchers, "while education remains a key part of what the NDC does, the vital work done by your academics, researchers and students lies in providing leaders, like myself with the tools, facts and arguments to dispel mis- and disinformation."

Admiral Bauer provided an overview of the recent high-level meeting of the NATO Military Committee, where the 30 Allied Chiefs of Defence discussed the implementation of NATO's Warfighting Capstone Concept, and the Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic concept, as well as their input to the forthcoming Strategic Concept, all central topics to the NDC.

During the two-day meeting, the AAB also discussed future academic programmes to ensure that the educational process reflects current and future challenges that the Alliance may come to face. Among others, Dr Thierry Tardy, head of the Research Division, updated the Board on the research programme for 2022, and Colonel Sylvain Curtenaz, head of the Curriculum Branch, briefed the Board on the NDC's curriculum adaptation to the new NATO Strategic Concept.

Concluding the 51st meeting, Admiral Bauer highlighted the importance of AAB in ensuring that "the Defense College remains 'fit-for-purpose' and responsive to today's and tomorrow's challenges." He also highlighted how NATO's military leaders depend on the valuable advice provided by the College, "which helps shape our strategic thinking and we must continue to enable the College's activities in support of the Alliance's strategic objectives."