This post was written by Hatchet reporter Dorothy White.

Admiral James Stavridis, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, stressed the importance of global dialogue and security during an address at the College of Professional Studies on Tuesday.

“Twenty-first century security is not about building walls, it’s about building bridges,” Stavridis said after an introduction by University President Steven Knapp.

Stavridis described NATO as a bridge connecting the Cold War views prominent during NATO’s founding to a modern lifestyle characterized by cyber-security.

The admiral also discussed NATO’s struggle with human trafficking, illegal drug trade and other international conflicts, using reading to emphasize context in grasping international relations.

“As we approach 21st-century security, we should begin by picking up a book and understanding,” he said. “No one nation, no one person, no one alliance is as smart as all of us working together.”

Stavridis took questions from the students about how NATO intends to break down interagency barriers and heroin trade in Afghanistan.

“We are a learning organization. We seek to be a force for good and communicate a sense of humility and honesty,” he said of NATO’s mission.