HEIDELBERG, Germany -- U.S. Army Europe commanding general inducted the Romanian sergeant major into the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy International Hall of Fame during a country visit in Bucharest, Romania, June 28.
Lt. Gen. Mark P. Hertling presented Plutonier Adjutant Principal Tiberiu-Augustin Nicolau, the senior enlisted adviser to the Romanian Minister of Defense, a certificate of achievement for being selected as an inductee into the USASMA International Hall of Fame during a brief ceremony at the Romanian Ministry of National Defense Headquarters in the capital city.
Hertling commended Nicolau for his commitment and dedication to his country’s noncommissioned officers’ corps.
“The effort and commitment CSM Nicolau has put into transforming the Romania noncommissioned officers’ corps has been exemplary. He has contributed to transitioning to a professional corps with education and training while improving the quality of life for enlisted soldiers,” Hertling said.
Nicolau was appointed as the MOD enlisted adviser November 1, 2006, on all matters pertaining to the Romanian enlisted force due to the contributions made as a NCO Counselor to the Chief of the General Staff by developing an exemplary NCO education system and building organizational structures to meet the chief’s intent.
“This nomination was unbeknownst to me and truly unexpected,” said Nicolau, “I wondered what was happening when I was told to be here today in my dress uniform.”
Nicolau also thanked Hertling for taking the time to honor him with the announcement and award during his country visit.
As the enlisted adviser to the MOD, Nicolau played a major role in the transitioning of the Romanian forces from a conscript to a professional military. He visited units providing firsthand knowledge of the steps necessary to make the transition a success and assessed the needs of the commanders in regards to training an all-volunteer force and the quality of life issues associated with it, said a senior defense official at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest.
The hall of fame recognizes those noncommissioned officers who have achieved prominent leadership positions in their countries’ military and made lasting contributions to leadership development and the education of their country’s noncommissioned officer corps.
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