On 29 August 2018, the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation General Denis Mercier French Air Force visited Portugal to attend a ceremony at the Salão Nobre (Ceremonial Room) of the Portuguese Ministry of Defence, where he was awarded the Portuguese Cross of St. Jorge Medal, 1st Class, by the Portuguese Chief of Defence, Admiral Antonio Silva Ribeiro.

The Cross of St. Jorge Medal is awarded to military or civilians, Portuguese or foreign, by the Portuguese military authorities in recognition of exceptional service in the technical-professional field, high competence, extraordinary performance and relevant personal qualities that contributed significantly to the efficiency, prestige and success of the Portuguese Armed Forces.

The medal was awarded to General Mercier in recognition of his outstanding support to the accomplishment of the mission of the Portuguese Armed Forces within NATO and his exceptional leadership and dedication to the JALLC’s location in Portugal, role, and output for the benefit of NATO. The ceremony was attended, among others, by a number of staff from the Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC), which being part of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation, is under the command of General Mercier. The JALLC is NATO’s lead agency for Lessons Learned. All JALLC staff congratulate General Mercier on his receiving the Cross of St. Jorge Medal.