The veteran commander of numerous Slovenian contingents serving in international peacekeeping missions was selected for the post earlier in December, just weeks after he was replaced as a senior commander in the Slovenian army.

Škerbinc will assume the three-year term in October, with his primary responsibilities encompassing military planning and coordination between military and political components of the alliance. As such, the division provides guidance to policy makers on capacities which need to be developed.

Slovenia currently has only one comparable high-ranking military position in NATO, as Brigadier Branimir Furlan is stationed in the command of the NATO South Wing in Naples.

Škerbinc, who served as the commander of the 1st Division of the Slovenian Armed Forces between 2012 and 2014, will act as an adviser to the general staff until his departure for NATO.