On March 24, 2016, Admiral Manfred Nielson (German Armed Forces) took on the incumbency of Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of NATO's Allied Command for Transformation, in Norfolk – Virginia - USA. Admiral Nielson received the post from General Mirco Zuliani (Italian Air Force), in a signing ceremony presided by NATO's Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation - General Denis Mercier (French Air Force).

The Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is the upper echelon of command and control for the Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC). ACT is an allied strategic headquarters, committed to preserving the peace, security and territorial integrity of Alliance member states by leading the transformation of military structures, forces, capabilities, and doctrines to improve the military effectiveness of NATO.

Admiral Nielson comes to Allied Command Transformation after serving as Commander Joint Support Service Command of the Armed Forces of Germany.