Officers – leaders must be good decision-makers because they lead military units, advise commanders on military operations, delegate activities, identify and anticipate risks and manage change, conduct training, and ensure the well-being of soldiers. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills play a crucial role in preparing military officers-leaders to meet the professional requirements related to service and leadership under conditions of uncertainty, so that they are competent to work anywhere in the world in any situation. These skills allow officers to be confident and well-prepared for difficult-to-predict future challenges. Critical thinking and problem solving are not skills that a person is born with and that everyone has from childhood. They need to be learned. That is why critical thinking is included in the curricula of higher education institutions. The master's degree studies at the General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania prepare highly qualified officers-leaders according to the Sectoral Qualifications Framework for the Military Officer Profession (SQF-MILOF), paying great attention to the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These skills can be acquired during the study process through different activities. In this case, an important role is played by professors, who should apply various strategies when teaching different subjects and topics.

The aim of the investigation is to share good practices on how critical thinking and problem-solving skills are developed in a master's degree program. Therefore, the study aims to answer the following questions:
(i) what should be the role of the professor and the student in developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills?
(ii) what teaching or learning approach contribute the most to the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills?
(iii) what additional skills does the student acquire in the context of critical thinking and problem-solving?

Research methods:
To achieve the aim, the author uses a systematic analysis of scientific literature and a case study to demonstrate how theoretical insights are applied practically in the study process.

Research results:
The study revealed that the development of critical thinking and problem-solving prioritizes student-led activities over traditional professor-centered content delivery. In this case, a research-based approach works well, which connects students' interest in topics, fosters the ability to develop problem-solving strategies and critical thinking through participation in the process of knowledge creation. By performing practical tasks that develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, students simultaneously develop the skills of cooperation, communication, flexibility, and creativity necessary for military leadership.

Keywords: Critical thinking, problem solving, military leadership.