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NATO ACT celebrates 20 years of Warfare Development [1]

['Brian Sostak']

Date: 2023-06-09 19:00:23+00:00

NORFOLK, VA – On 7 June 2023, NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT), NATO’s Strategic Warfare Development Command, celebrated its 20th Anniversary in Norfolk, Virginia – a city known as “NATO’s Home in North America”.

Established in 2003, ACT evolved from what was Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) into an organisation that is responsible for NATO’s strategic warfare development. At the time of its creation, the then Secretary General, Lord Robertson, said ACT is, “both the symbol of the new NATO, and the architect that will shape its future.”

Following 9/11, ACT led NATO’s transformation for new missions and roles that are now further challenged by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Twenty years ago, on this very spot, Lord Robertson, the then Secretary General, unveiled the new logo for Allied Command Transformation. The ceremony was a symbol of NATO’s interest and confidence in its future in a world still shaken by 9/11. Yet here we are in 2023, with war in Ukraine and under near constant cognitive assault,” said General Lavigne. “ACT will continue to defend the security of its members… against threats and challenges we cannot even imagine today.”

Over the last 20 years, ACT has had a total of eight Commanders from either the U.S. or France. The current Commander is General Philippe Lavigne and he assumed Command in September 2021. To read more about General Lavigne click here.

The Command ensures maximum interoperability of Alliance members and Partners, develops concepts that describe new ways of dealing with emerging challenges, identifies opportunities and constraints in the adoption of new technologies through experimentation and analysis and leverages a vast network of military and civilian expertise in member and partner countries, industry, academia, Joint Commands and many other partners. ACT is known for defining individual and collective training standards, modernizing NATO’s capabilities as well as delivering exercise and pre-deployment training. ACT’s deliverables for the Alliance are available here.

During his address to ACT staff, Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee said of General Lavigne and the Command, “Nobody embodies the slogan ‘win as a team’ like you do. With your keen intellect, strategic vision and infectious enthusiasm, you manage to make sure everybody who crosses your path wants to join your team.”

For the next 20 years, thanks to the NATO Warfighting Capstone Concept and working closely with Allied Command Operations, ACT will be at the forefront of ensuring that NATO can continue to provide the collective defence of one billion people.

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[1] Url: https://www.act.nato.int/article/act-celebrates-20-years-of-wd/

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