NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT)

12/23/2022

This week Allied Command Transformation celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the NATO ACT Innovation Hub , one of the most prolific drivers of invention and creativity in ’s history.

The Innovation Hub has been a leading force behind innovation in the Alliance since its inception, with many of its greatest contributions coming to fruition in 2022. The Innovation Hub is made up of a diverse community of experts and innovators from across the Alliance who tackle NATO operational challenges and design solutions together. It is also the birthplace of countless NATO initiatives including federating national entities, leveraging open innovation, and pushing agile development.

Learn More: https://www.act.nato.int/articles/10-years-innovation-hub

12/22/2022

The NATO Medical Support Capstone Concept, ’s first ever strategic medical concept, was approved by the Military Committee recently. Underpinned by this strategic alignment, the NATO Medical Support Capstone Concept provides the basis for defining, understanding and integrating operational employment and capability development in the medical arena. It informs NATO’s mid and long-term medical planning and the development of Alliance medical capabilities through to 2040 in support of NATO’s combatant commanders engaged in Alliance missions across the spectrum of conflict.

NATO Allied Command Transformation was one of the leading institutions in the delivering this highly important concept.

Learn more: https://www.act.nato.int/articles/nato-medical-support-capstone-concept-approved

12/21/2022

NATO decision-makers must prepare to react quickly, decisively, and effectively to ever more demanding challenges and events. Modeling and simulation, in combination with technologies such as data analytics and artificial intelligence, help NATO to prepare and support decision-makers and staff to manage complexity, assess risks, and evaluate options in the multifaceted security environment.

NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is focusing modeling and simulation on overcoming lagging support for customer needs, stove piped approaches, lack of interoperability, and data exchange between national and systems. Overcoming these challenges is crucial to assisted decision-making, defense planning, operations planning, mission rehearsal, education, training, exercises, wargaming, analytical studies, and lessons learned.

NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is committed to providing user applications and user-centric design and implementation using modeling and simulation. Today and in coming years NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT) will ensure interoperability within the Alliance implementing a data centric approach to modeling and simulation.

Learn more: https://www.act.nato.int/articles/ms-take-key-role-warfare-development

12/21/2022

’s Alliance Warfare Development Conference brought together key representatives from NATO, most of the 30 Allied nations and partners with the aim of all being smarter, stronger, more innovative and interoperable. The major Alliance’s warfare development event is dedicated for military and civilian decision-makers to inform, explore, exchange and experience in order to protect close to one billion citizens.

Head of Strategic Issues and Engagements in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate at NATO Allied Command Transformation, dr. Vlasta Zekulic, joins NATO podcast to discuss the Alliance Warfare Development Conference and its role in advancing the conversation regarding key trends and topics vital to NATO transformation.

Listen to the 12th Episode of NATO podcast here:
Spotify: bit.ly/3G6RWIW
Apple: https://bit.ly/3I8gN0L
Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3Wt5tk9
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3Wbr8gd
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3G9EEvz

12/20/2022

In 2023, NATO Allied Command Transformation’s Strategic Foresight Branch will publish a new Strategic Foresight Analysis that is designed to inform NATO’s long-term policy and capability development priorities. In a new episode of Innovation Podcast NATO Allied Command Transformation’s Strategic Foresight branch head Dr. Gergely Nemeth discusses current trends, trajectories, and underlying dynamics that could shape the future security environment.

Listen to the 11th Episode of NATO Innovation podcast here:
Spotify: https://bit.ly/3v5PqMY
Apple: https://bit.ly/3Wvgn8j
Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3hIFHcn
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3FAjh4Y
Amazon: https://bit.ly/3FB6aQQ

12/20/2022

Emerging and disruptive technologies are fast evolving in cyberspace, creating new vulnerabilities for attackers to exploit, but also offering potential opportunities for greater security.

Operationalizing cyberspace requires developing the necessary doctrine and concepts within the Alliance. Strengthening ’s deterrence and defense posture in this arena supports Multi-Domain Operations which is a top priority for NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT).

Cyberspace is a constantly contested domain, with frequent and sophisticated threats, in order for to control this domain, it must remain highly vigilant. NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is able to foster an Alliance wide understanding of the quickly evolving cyber landscape.

More: https://act.nato.int/articles/cyberspace-domain-operations-remains-top-priority-act

12/19/2022

In order to stay ahead of evolving trends and unexpected developments in NATO strategic needs, human capital is top priority for the Alliance today and over the coming decades.

NATO Allied Command Transformation aims to develop an agile, cooperative, and innovative framework for future requirements and human capital enhancement in order to operate efficiently in a fluid security environment.

Learn more on human capital development: https://act.nato.int/articles/allied-command-transformation-continues-rapid-human-capital-development

12/19/2022

With specialized subject matter expertise, accredited Centers of Excellence distribute their in-depth knowledge through concept development, training, doctrine, and lessons learned.

Today, NATO benefits from 28 accredited Centers of Excellence and will soon welcome two more: the NATO Space Center of Excellence and another Center of Excellence focused on climate change security.

Join Rasa Pazarauskiene, NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT) Staff Officer for Centers of Excellence Program Development Directorate, in the new episode on NATO podcast, where she discusses Centers of Excellence and their value to the Alliance as capacity multipliers.

Listen to the NATO podcast here or on your favorite Podcast platform: https://bit.ly/3WrCDQD

12/19/2022

The new issue of the NATO Legal Gazette focuses on the international law and policy adjacent the international security challenges posed by climate change. As climate change continues to influence ’s and nations’ conduct of strategic affairs and military operations, the NATO Legal Gazette is NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT)’s contribution to the debate and discussion.

The effects of climate change on mass migration, competition for food and water, and effects on coastal and maritime communities, among others, will be long-lasting, severe, and somewhat unpredictable. This NATO Legal Gazette rises the awareness of both legal practitioners and academics and the scientific, strategy, policy and operations communities with regard to the effects of climate change on NATO’s force structure, posture, and conduct of operations, and the changing operational environment.

Have a look at the issues 43 of the NATO Legal Gazette:https://www.act.nato.int/application/files/6416/7113/5089/legal_gazette_43.pdf

12/18/2022

Highlights of the week:

🔦 The NATO Medical Support Capstone Concept, ’s first ever strategic medical concept, was approved by the Military Committee on 8 December 2022. Underpinned by this strategic alignment, the NATO Medical Support Capstone Concept provides the basis for defining, understanding and integrating operational employment and capability development in the medical arena. It informs NATO’s mid- and long-term medical planning and the development of Alliance medical capabilities through to 2040 in support of NATO’s combatant commanders engaged in Alliance missions across the spectrum of conflict.

🔦 NATO Centres of Excellence train and educate leaders and specialists from NATO member and partner countries, assist in doctrine development, identify lessons learned, improve interoperability and capabilities, and test and validate concepts through experimentation. The new edition of NATO Centres of Excellence Catalogue is released. Get to know this important NATO asset:https://www.act.nato.int/application/files/5116/7104/8223/2023-coe-catalogue.pdf

🔦 NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT)’s NATO ACT Innovation Hub recently handed off a new networked product helping Allies track and share qualifications for Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, military specialists who coordinate close air support for ground units. Lear more: https://act.nato.int/articles/allied-command-transformations-innovation-hub-hands-new-tool-allied-air-command

12/17/2022

NATO Chorus

From the snowy forest in the multinational chorus of troops perform Christmas classic “Carol of the bells” by Ukrainian 🇺🇦 composer Mykola Leontovych also known as “”.

Holliday greetings from everyone in !

12/16/2022

The NATO Medical Support Capstone Concept, NATO’s first ever strategic medical concept, was approved by the Military Committee on 8 December 2022. It is predicated on both NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT)’s NATO Warfighting Capstone Concept and NATO Allied Command Operations’ Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic area, both of which are derived from NATO’s Military Strategy.

Underpinned by this strategic alignment, the NATO Medical Support Capstone Concept provides the basis for defining, understanding and integrating operational employment and capability development in the medical arena. It informs NATO’s mid- and long-term medical planning and the development of Alliance medical capabilities through to 2040 in support of NATO’s combatant commanders engaged in Alliance missions across the spectrum of conflict.

These medical capabilities will be essential for NATO Nations to sustain, across their Armed Forces, the will to fight that is an essential element of the moral component of fighting power. It is widely acknowledged that a failure to provide adequate medical support can have a corrosive effect on the collective morale of Armed Forces.

The Medical Support Capstone Concept was written by the Medical Branches in NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and NATO Allied Command Operations (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE)) and is very much a Bi-Strategic Command document.

12/15/2022

NATO Accredited Centres of Excellence

NATO Centres of Excellence are nationally, or multi-nationally funded institutions accredited by . They train and educate leaders and specialists from NATO member and partner countries, assist in doctrine development, identify lessons learned, improve interoperability and capabilities, and test and validate concepts through experimentation. They offer recognized expertise and experience that is of benefit to the Alliance and support the transformation of NATO, while avoiding the duplication of assets, resources and capabilities already present within the NATO command structure.

“In these extraordinary times, with war in Europe and a transformed NATO following its Madrid Summit, it is more vital than ever that the Alliance makes use of all available resources to further its mission. The NATO-accredited Centres of Excellence provide an effective way of tapping into the expertise and innovative ideas to be found within our member states. Individually, they each bring a specific expertise to the wider set of NATO capabilities, and together make all of us stronger in the process,” states General Philippe Lavigne, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation in his introduction to the new edition of NATO – Accredited Centres of Excellence Catalogue.

NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is in charge of the establishment, accreditation, and periodic assessments of the centres.

Get to know this important NATO asset:https://www.act.nato.int/application/files/5116/7104/8223/2023-coe-catalogue.pdf

12/14/2022

NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT)’s NATO ACT Innovation Hub recently handed off a new networked product helping Allies track and share qualifications for Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, military specialists who coordinate close air support for ground units.

The Joint Terminal Attack Controller Enterprise Data Infrastructure was developed to meet a specific Allied Air Command request, made in early 2021. Allied Air Command described the need for a centralized digital system to track and share Joint Terminal Attack Controller qualifications within NATO and individual Nations, replacing traditional paper logbooks and spreadsheets.

The Innovation Hub used cutting-edge methodology to deliver a Minimum Viable Product to Allied Air Command. The resulting product will allow for an easy-to-use interface and dashboard using an Allied Command Transformation platform to track qualifications. This innovation will continue to be used within the Allied Command Transformation platform and will promote greater interoperability and standardization throughout the Alliance.

Read more: https://act.nato.int/articles/allied-command-transformations-innovation-hub-hands-new-tool-allied-air-command

12/13/2022

NATO Joint Warfare Centre just released its 38th issue of The Three Swords magazine.
This edition focuses on:
- NATO's approach to communications and combating disinformation;
- the declassification of intelligence and its impact on Russia’s war in Ukraine;
- the campaign for deterrence and defence;
- the latest developments in Multi-Domain operations, including Multi-Domain operations in an urban environment;
- the resurgence of wargaming in NATO and much more.
In the articles on the Alliance’s movement toward Multi-Domain operations the NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT)’s efforts and strategy are highlighted.
Have a look: https://www.jwc.nato.int/.../The-Three.../three-swords-38

12/12/2022

The Director General of the NATO International Military Staff, Lieutenant General Janusz Adamczak, participated in the Alliance Warfare Development Conference, which took place from 6 to 8 December in Norfolk, Virginia, US.

In his keynote address, Lieutenant General Adamczak highlighted how the Alliance’s future success depends on its ability to continuously transform to meet tomorrow’s challenges and long-term planning to ensure warfare development is deliberate, proactive and effective. He went on to explain that, as challenges become simultaneous and persistent, “Command and Control structures need to adapt to enable multi-domain, less geographically bound, warfare. NATO - Allied Command Transformation (ACT) lead on transformation and development are key to ensuring the Alliance is always one step ahead”.

He also praised NATO’s Allied Command Transformation's work “in placing NATO and its Allies ahead of any potential adversaries, by enabling the Alliance’s Military Instrument of Power to build and maintain its decisive military advantage – ensuring the Alliance has the necessary capabilities to counter any threat, from any direction”.

This year’s event was themed “Better Today, Stronger Tomorrow”. It is NATO’s Allied Command Transformation flagship event on warfare development that gathered 150 representatives from Allied Nations, the NATO Command and Force Structures as well as other NATO agencies and entities.

Lear more: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_210012.htm