NATO Innovation Podcast

This episode features Captain Jack Benfield, Team Lead for concept development at ACT, as well as Tony Icayan, a concept developer and experimenter at HUBZone HQ. Both SMEs are there to discuss the importance of Resilience, both for the military and civil sectors.

This episode features Dr. Gergely Nemeth, Strategic Foresight Analysis Branch Head. This is a conversation where we explore different futures and how this horizon scanning should shape how we prepare for these possible scenarios.

This episode features Jean-Rene Couture, NATO ACT Federated Interoperability Branch Head. This is a conversation that explores how digital transformation is reshaping the 21st century, changing the way we live and work, and leading to a boom in information-based industries and information-based threats.

This episode features Colonel Christophe GrandClement, the head of the Space Branch at NATO ACT, Robert Kroeger, Space Integrator, and Dr. Orzuri Rique who is in Space Research and Development. This is a conversation about how Space figures into NATO's collective defense efforts, and what risks and opportunities this new operational domain brings.

Today, NATO’s focus is not only towards threats emanating from the Maritime, Land and Air domains, but also on defending the Alliance across the Space and Cyberspace domains. Transforming to a Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) approach, in which the Alliance synchronizes capabilities across all 5 operational domains to achieve military objectives, will enhance deterrence and ensure NATO maintains a warfighting advantage over its adversaries. Join us for a discussion on MDO with Lt. General Dave Julazadeh, Deputy Chief of Staff for Capability Development at Allied Command Transformation.

From December 6th-8th, 2022, Allied Command Transformation hosted the Alliance Warfare Development Conference (AWDC) for more than 150 guests from 34 Allied and partner nations, including senior leadership from NATO commands. Today, Head of Strategic Issues and Engagements in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate at ACT, Dr. Vlasta Zekulic, joins us to discuss AWDC and its role in advancing the conversation regarding key trends and topics vital to NATO transformation.

In 2023, ACT’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. Strategic Foresight branch head Dr. Gergely Nemeth joins us for a discussion on current trends, trajectories, and underlying dynamics that could shape the future security environment.

With specialized subject matter expertise, NATO accredited Centers of Excellence (COEs) distribute their in-depth knowledge through concept development, training, doctrine, and lessons learned. Today, NATO benefits from 28 accredited COEs and will soon welcome two more: the NATO space COE and another COE focused on climate change security. In this episode, Rasa Pazarauskiene, ACT Staff Officer for COE Program Development Directorate, discusses COEs and their value to the Alliance as capacity multipliers.

In Fall 2022, a vision for NATO Digital Transformation was endorsed by the Allied Defence Ministers to support Multi-Domain Operations (MDO). Today, we’re joined today by Mr. JR Couture, a digital evangelist at NATO’s Allied Command Transformation, to discuss the processes, policies, and procedures of Digital Transformation that will enhance connectivity for the Alliance between domains, commands, and nations.

On July 5th, 2022, Finland and Sweden formally confirmed their willingness and ability to meet the political, legal and military obligations and commitments for NATO membership. Join ACT Staff Officer Bruce Hutchison for a conversation about the accession and military integration processes currently underway for both countries as they join the Alliance.

Marcus Gaul, Section Head for Analytics and Data Science at Allied Command Transformation and Lieutenant Commander James Carrick, project manager for AWARE, discuss the situational awareness enhancer which collects, processes, and visualizes multiple streams of open-source data to inform analysts and decision makers about patters of life in any operational environment.

Robert “Butch” Bracknell, Staff Legal Advisor for International Law at Supreme Allied Commander Transformation discusses the process and practice of managing innovation from a legal and compliance perspective.

Colonel Lewis, Lt. Colonel Dirk Mathes, and Deputy Branch Head Simon Purton continue to discuss AI Felix, its potential, and the value of AI to the future of the Alliance.

Canadian Royal Air Force Colonel Sean Lewis, Lieutenant Colonel Dirk Mathes of the German Bundeswehr, and Simon Purton, the Deputy Branch Head for ACT’s Analysis of Alternatives Branch discuss the development of NATOs first machine-learning tool: Artificial Intelligence Front End Learning Information Execution, otherwise known as AI Felix.

The old model of top-heavy, gold-plated, committee-directed, sub-contracted military innovation is increasingly outmoded and outpaced by adversaries. The open innovation model emphasizes speed, agility, and collaboration.  NATO Allied Command Transformation Chief of Staff Admiral Guy Robinson (UK Royal Navy) and Brigadier General Poul Primdahl (Royal Danish Army) talk about building an innovative Alliance through creativity, cooperation, and risk-taking.

Former French Air Force Chief of Staff and new Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Gen. Philippe Lavigne talks about his policy agenda, the importance of innovation, and the strength of the Alliance.

Organizing and tasking air-to-air refueling aircraft are pieces to a puzzle that is critical to mission success.  NATO’s Allied Command Transformation developed a user-friendly tool, JIGSAW, to manage these missions across several nations and vast territories. The NATO Innovation Podcast talks to LTC Jon Clow of the Royal Canadian Air Force, about JIGSAW’s development and deployment.