Students in the GT-EU study abroad program, directed by Vicki Birchfield, associate professor in The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs (INTA), had the opportunity to meet with General Philip Breedlove at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium.

Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and a Georgia Tech alumnus (Civil Engineering 1977), and his senior officers welcomed the group to the Comprehensive Crisis and Operations Management Centre for a detailed briefing. The briefing focused NATO's system for assessing and managing threats within Europe, the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, North Africa, Middle East, and part of Asia.

At a reception following the briefing, General Breedlove mentioned how impressed he was with the students and the IAC international affairs program. Those attending the reception included Georgia Tech President G.P. "Bud" Peterson, Provost Raphael Bras, Executive Vice President for Research Steve Cross, Vice President for International Development Marta Garcia, Dean of Engineering Gary May, The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs Chair Joseph E. Bankoff, and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Chair Reginald DesRoches.