This August, Tõnis Saar will assume the role of Director of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), based in Tallinn. He will take over the position from Dr Mart Noorma, who has led the Centre since August 2022.
“Cyber defence is one of NATO’s key tasks in deterrence and defence, and since 2016, the cyber domain has been recognised as a distinct operational environment alongside land, air, sea, and space. I extend my sincere thanks to Mart Noorma for his bold and inspiring ideas in leading NATO CCDCOE in Tallinn since 2022. The Russian aggression against Ukraine, which began that same year, continues to be resisted. The war has also been a catalyst for innovation in the cyber domain,” said Estonian Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary Kaimo Kuusk.
“The NATO CCDCOE must continue to lead in innovation. I am very pleased that starting in August, the Centre will be headed by Tõnis Saar, a proven senior leader with experience across various fields,” added Kuusk.
“For Estonia, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence has been a true success story for 17 years – it has become a hub that brings together NATO member states with partner countries and fosters cooperation. It has been an honour to serve as Director and contribute to ensuring that nations sharing common values can stand together against the growing cyber threats,” said Mart Noorma.
“What the Centre has achieved so far is a real success. In an era of increasingly frequent and complex cyberattacks, it is crucial that this momentum continues. I firmly believe that systematic exchange of knowledge and experience among allies will move us all forward,” stated Tõnis Saar.
Tõnis Saar has served in public administration for over 20 years, most recently as Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs. He previously served six years as Director at the National Audit Office and five years as Undersecretary for Administrative Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Tallinn University of Technology (2000) and a Master’s degree in management from Cass Business School, City University of London (2004).