Inauguration of the rector
Inauguration of the rector
14 Mar
On March 14th, 2024, the rector of the Armed Forces Academy of General Milan Rastislav Stefanik (AFA) – COL GS Aurel Sabó was inaugurated. He is the 6th rector of the AFA (and the 14th rector within the history of military university education in Liptovsky Mikulas). He took over the position after the previous rector Assoc. prof. Jozef Puttera on December 18th, 2023, after the President of the Slovak Republic - Zuzana Caputova, appointed him on the proposal of the Minister of Defense of Slovak Republic - Robert Kalinak.
The inauguration ceremony is an academic ceremony, in which the new rector took a vow to the academy by touching the national flag with the words “Spondeo et polliceor” (I hereby promise) while being decorated by the rector's chain - one of the school's insignia – for highlighting the importance of his position. Invitation was recognized by a large number of very important guests, which gave high weight to the ceremony. The decoration of the rector was done by the Minister of Defense Robert Kalinak, who was accompanied by Members of the Ministry of Defense generals and other officers of Slovak Armed Forces. The inauguration of the rector was witnessed by the academic dignitaries of 20 universities of the Slovak Republic, military universities’ representatives from the Czech Republic and Hungary, as well as defense attachés in the Slovak Republic, representatives of churches, social organizations, the business sphere of the region, mayors of surrounding towns, former rectors and AFA employees and cadets.
One of the main priorities of the new rector is to strengthen the quality of education and research at AFA. "I want Armed Forces Academy of General Milan Rastislav Stefanik to be able to offer our students and PhD students a modern and relevant education that will enable them to become competent and professional officers and professionals. I also want to support the scientific work and innovativeness of our educators and researchers who contribute to the development of military theory and practice", said Rector Sabó.
