On 2–3 June 2026, the University of Defence Club hosted the traditional international scientific conference Leadership in Theory and Practice 2026, this year focused on “Leadership and Commander Support in Personnel Development in an Era of Dynamic Change and AI.” The 2026 edition was held in a hybrid format, with both in-person and online participation. The event was organized by the Department of Applied Social Sciences and Humanities in cooperation with the Academic Club at the University of Defence. This year, the Department of Social Sciences and Languages of the Armed Forces Academy of General Milan Rastislav Štefánik also joined as a co-organizer. The conference was held under the auspices of the Rector-Commandant of the University of Defence, Brigadier General Jan Farlík, and the Rector of the Armed Forces Academy, Brigadier General Aurel Sabó.
Following the opening address by the Head of the Department of Applied Social Sciences and Humanities, Ivana Nekvapilová, the participants were welcomed by the Rector of the Slovak military academy, Brigadier General Aurel Sabó, and, on behalf of the University of Defence, by the Vice-Rector for External Relations and Internationalisation, Colonel of the General Staff Petr Hlavizna. The programme then continued with presentations by invited guests and registered participants. In line with the thematic focus of the conference, the audience had the opportunity to hear contributions from prominent representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the Czech Armed Forces, and foreign guests. The invited lecture sessions included, for example, a presentation by Colonel Blanka Majkusová, Director of the Humanitarian Service Department of the Personnel Agency of the Czech Armed Forces, on the current tasks and role of the humanitarian service; Colonel Marek Nový, representing the psychological service of the Czech Armed Forces; and Lieutenant Colonel David Tomčík, chaplain of the Military Police Headquarters, representing the chaplaincy service. The command corps of the Czech Armed Forces was actively represented by Major Michal Foret, Deputy Commander of the 72nd Mechanized Battalion in Přáslavice.
Foreign participants also joined the conference, including representatives of the Slovak Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant Colonel Pavel Czirák, and Major Mária Blehová, who presented a paper on leadership and a safe working environment in the context of gender equality, discrimination, and prevention. The partner academy from Slovakia was represented by Miroslav Špánik, who spoke on motivational elements in the recruitment of professional soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic.
The conference also featured several other interesting and thought-provoking presentations. These included contributions by representatives of the Police Academy in Prague, Ondřej Kolář, and Josef Smolík, on leadership in project management; Captain Patrik Weiss on expert activities in the personnel area of the Czech Armed Forces; and members of the Department of Applied Social Sciences and Humanities and other University of Defence units, who addressed issues forming part of their research activities. The topics ranged from the use of artificial intelligence and the legal aspects of commanders’ activities and support to questions of heroism, ethics, and the prevention of risk behaviour with a focus on interpersonal relations.
Author: Jaromír Ďuriš
