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Director General of the International Military Staff
Updated: 16 July 2025
The Director General of the International Military Staff (DGIMS) is responsible for the coordination between the decision-making bodies of the Alliance, the two Strategic Commanders, national military from NATO and Partner countries working in Brussels, and the civilian International Staff, that support the Secretary General and the North Atlantic Council, in order for the IMS to provide the best possible policy advice to the to the Military Committee.
- The Director General heads the International Military Staff. They are assisted in their tasks by 12 flag officers who head the divisions.
- The DGIMS reports to the Military Committee.
- They are responsible for the coordination between the decision-making bodies of the Alliance, the two Strategic Commanders, national military from NATO and Partner countries working in Brussels, and the civilian International Staff.
Tasks and responsibilities
The Director General of the International Military Staff (DGIMS) is responsible for the coordination between the decision-making bodies of the Alliance, the two Strategic Commanders, national military from NATO and Partner countries working in Brussels, and the civilian International Staff, that support the Secretary General and the North Atlantic Council, in order for the IMS to provide the best possible policy advice to the to the Military Committee.
The DGIMS reports to the Chairman of the MC (CMC), takes part in all MC meetings (both in Chiefs of Defence format and the meetings in Permanent Session), also attending the NAC and senior political meetings, and holds regular meetings with the Directors of the six IMS functional areas in order to observe the progress, provide direction, and assign new tasks and projects.
Selection process
The DGIMS, a General/Flag Officer is selected by the NATO Chiefs of Defence from candidates nominated by the Member Nations for a term of three years.
The current DGIMS is Lieutenant General Remigijus Baltrėnas
Lieutenant General Remigijus Baltrėnas
Lieutenant General Remigijus Baltrėnas is a graduate of the Lithuanian Military Academy, and holds a degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College (Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA). He has also completed a Joint Forces Staff Course at the National Defense University as well as Marine Corps Command and Staff College at the Marine Corps University (Quantico, Virginia, USA). Over the course of his more than thirty-year career, Lieutenant General Baltrėnas has held numerous command and staff positions in the Lithuanian Armed Forces. His roles have included command of the Mechanised Infantry Battalion, Chief of Operations and Training of Motorised Infantry Brigade “Iron Wolf”, and Chief of Staff of Motorised Infantry Battalion. As Commander of the “Algirdas” Mechanised Infantry Battalion, he deployed to Afghanistan as the Commander of the Lithuanian-led Province Reconstruction Team-12, ISAF (Afghanistan). His operational deployments also include serving as Deputy Commander of an Infantry Company of the joint Baltic Battalion at the NATO-led Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lieutenant General Baltrėnas also served as Director of the Joint Command and Staff Course at the Baltic Defence College, as Executive Officer to the Minister of Defence, 15th Director of Defence Intelligence and Security Service of Lithuania. Before taking up his current position, he served as Vice Chief of Defence, while simultaneously Chief of the Defence Staff of Lithuanian Armed Forces. Previously posted in Brussels as the Lithuanian Military Representative to NATO and the European Union, he is the current Director General of the International Military Staff, since 10th July 2025. For the commendable service to Lithuania and its Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Baltrėnas has been awarded the Lithuanian Order of the Cross of Vytis and a number of other awards. Lieutenant General Baltrėnas and his wife Žaneta have a daughter and a son.
