The Rakovski Defence and Staff College (Bulgarian: Военна академия „Георги Стойков Раковски“), based in Sofia, is Bulgaria's oldest military institution of higher education. It was officially established on 1 March 1912 with an act of the National Assembly of Bulgaria and opened on 4 January 1915, delayed due to the Balkan Wars. Since its creation, the college has served as the main institution for the training of military commanders and personnel in Bulgaria and the primary one in the field of national security and military science, as well as NATO operational compatibility. The college trains 1,500 officers and civil individuals a year and has 148 qualified lecturers. It is headed by Major-General Evgeni Manev.
