Sarajevo, 5 September 2025, The Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a high-level ceremony marking the first official recognition within the NATO Quality Assurance Specialist Programme (NQASP), new NATO project founded by MAJ Radu BALANESCU (ROU-A) and launched by NATO Supreme Allied Command Transformation (HQ SACT). The ceremony held in Sarajevo gathered senior representatives from the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, alongside the DCOM NATO HQ Sarajevo COL Muharrem Aydın and distinguished guests.
At the centre of the event were Lieutenant Colonel Amer Rikovic, the first Certified NATO Quality Assurance Specialist and officially appointed NQASP Manager within the NATO HQ SACT MDFD. In recognition of his pioneering role, his significant contributions to the NATO QA community, and his dedicated service as a valuable member of the NATO HQ SACT Team of Experts, the Minister of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mr. Zukan Helez awarded LTC Rikovic with the Medal of Military Merit. This decoration represents the highest recognition that can be bestowed upon an active service member under the MoD’s Regulations on Awards and Commendations.
This honour is not only a personal achievement but also a national milestone, stated during the ceremony. Lieutenant Colonel Riković’s success reflects the growing role of Bosnia and Herzegovina in strengthening the NATO Alliance and its QA Community. By becoming the first NATO QA Specialist and NQASP Manager, he has set the standard for future generations and confirmed that Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina are among the most reliable partners wirhin the Alliance.
The NQASP is a groundbreaking programme designed to provide NATO and partner nations with standardized Quality Assurance Expertise, supporting interoperability, transparency, and accountability across the Alliance.
By acknowledging the role of LTC Riković, the Ministry of Defence underlined the strategic importance of NQASP as a force multiplier for the QA Community, and as a tool that adds long-term value to the NATO Alliance. This recognition further strengthens Bosnia and Herzegovina’s reputation as a trusted and forward-leaning partner, ready to contribute to collective security through professionalism, knowledge, and commitment.
The ceremony concluded with expressions of pride and determination to continue building on this success, ensuring that the NQASP becomes a lasting legacy within Bosnia and Herzegovina’s defence system, and a vital component of NATO’s future development.
