On 9 October 2026, Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč, MSc, Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, delivered a seminar at the Centre for Security and Military-Strategic Studies (CSMSS) of the University of Defence as part of the Strategic Leadership course within the 45th General Staff Course. During the approximately ninety-minute session, he addressed the topic “The Character and Role of a Strategic Leader.”

In his presentation, Lieutenant General Hlaváč focused on the key attributes and competencies required of strategic leaders, their responsibilities in leading armed forces, and the importance of setting a personal example in decision-making at the highest levels of command. He also discussed the current challenges facing strategic leaders in today’s dynamic security environment.

The seminar was attended by 24 course participants, who took advantage of the subsequent discussion to exchange views and raise questions related to the topic. The open debate contributed to a deeper understanding of strategic leadership and provided the audience with valuable insights drawn from the experience of the highest-ranking military representative of the Czech Armed Forces.

The Strategic Leadership course, delivered as part of the 45th General Staff Course, benefited from the involvement of a number of experienced generals of the Czech Armed Forces: Chief of the General Staff Lt Gen Miroslav Hlaváč, Lt Gen Ivo Střecha, Maj Gen Ilmar Tamm (Estonia), First Deputy Chief of the General Staff Maj Gen Petr Čepelka, Deputy Chief of the General Staff – Chief of Staff Maj Gen Pavel Lipka, Maj Gen Jiří Roček, Deputy Chief of the General Staff – Inspector of the Czech Armed Forces Maj Gen Miloslav Lafek, and Vice-Rector of the University of Defence Brig Gen Jan Farlík, Ph.D. The seminars also involved academic staff from the University of Defence and experts from professional practice. By combining theoretical knowledge with the lecturers’ professional experience, the course provided participants with valuable insights relevant to their future roles at the strategic level of command and management.