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"You can do as much planning as you want to, and you must certainly do this, but reality seldom turns out as you expected. You must be aware of this." -- Brig. Gen. Hans Ilis-Alm of the Swedish Armed Forces, reflecting on what he learned from command experience. Brigadier Gen. Hans Ilis-Alm has a veteran's perspective on the challenges of international security. His experience with nations working together in military and security challenges is a key ingredient in his presentation to the World Affairs Council on Friday, March 31. The program title is "Security Challenge: Sweden, U.S. Team in Baltic Region." Gen. Ilis-Alm is also Swedish Senior National Representative at the U.S. Central Command that the Department of Defense describes as "the unified command responsible for U.S. security interests in 27 nations that stretch from the Horn of Africa through the Arabian Gulf region, into Central Asia." The importance of the U.S.–Sweden partnership for security in the Baltic Sea region was outlined in 2016 in a commentary published by the Center for Strategic International Studies after President Barack Obama and "the five Nordic heads of state" met. The president and the leaders of Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Denmark, according to the commentary, "reaffirmed their commitment to 'take measures to increase reginal security that are mutually reinforcing and contribute substantially to stability in Europe'." The CSIS commentary predicted that the U.S. and Sweden would strengthen their relationship in the areas of military, security and political dialogue to maintain a tranquil Baltic region. As the American presidential administration moved toward change, the activity of Russia began to make headlines. And, according to news reports, Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lovren said his nation is facing several security threats with Russia's being the "most significant." He linked these challenges to "Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea." Gen. Ilis-Alm has been in military service since the late 1970s and his career has involved leadership and policy planning as well as field assignments. He commanded units in the Balkans, Afghanistan and in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He holds a Master’s Degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College in Washington, D.C., and a Certificate in Terrorism Studies from University of St Andrews. He has been awarded the Gold Medal With Sword of the Swedish Armed Forces for international missions, the French Armed Forces Medal in Gold and the French Legion d´honneur.