The third and final day of the 12th annual NATO Lessons Learned Conference concluded yesterday with two robust panels with discussions focused on the theme: Closing the loop: The lessons learned capability in support of NATO transformation.
The day commenced with a quick brief from the JALLC Advisory and Training Team (JATT). T eam leader, CDR Michael Koen reiterated that the JATT stands ready to provide support to Allied Command Transformation outreach activities and to assist NATO HQs and bodies, NATO Nations and Partner Nations and other organizations by offering advice and training on analysis and the NATO Lessons Learned Capability.
The first panel of the day's presentations centred on Key lessons from Crisis Management Operations, specifically the Ukraine Crisis, taken from the Political/Military perspective. This panel looked at how the recent crisis in Ukraine caused the Alliance to adopt Assurance and Adaptation Measures in order to respond to changes in the international security environment. The panel also discussed what lessons can be drawn, from both the political and military perspectives, and how such lessons should be shared in order to contribute to NATO transformation.
BG Gianmarco Badialetti, the Deputy Director for Operations at the NATO International Military Staff, as key speaker of this panel presented lessons from a political and military perspective, noting that, although the traditional NATO Lesson Learned process is valid, the dynamic pace of strategic change requires continuous adaptation of that process. COL Jon Acornley, from SHAPE Comprehensive Crisis and Operations Management Centre (CCOMC), followed this presentation looking at lessons from a strategic perspective. He highlighted that the current sustained level of activity is the “New Normal” and that, in dealing with a crisis, NATO must be more cross functional, with a wider perspective and that Lesson Learned help feed into this concept. The final panel presenter was Mr David Campion, the Operations Support Officer for Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE), who delivered a very interesting presentation on lessons from OSCE engagements that could apply to NATO. He noted that the OSCE faces many challenges that are not unlike the challenges NATO faces in this respect, and that with regard to the Ukraine Crisis, the OSCE is still identifying lessons and formalizing their lessons learned. A lively panel discussion on this topic ensued.
The final panel of the conference also focused on key lessons from Crisis Management operations, this time focussing on how the humanitarian crisis resulting from the outbreak of Ebola was managed and how the lessons and best practices which are being identified, analysed, and shared can contribute to NATO's transformation in support of managing future humanitarian crises. Colonel Andrew Jackson, assisted by Major Lee Rickard, both from Great Britain’s Lessons Exploitation Centre, delivered the first of four presentations during this panel. They discussed lessons from Great Britain’s military engagement in managing the Ebola outbreak in Sierra-Leone. Colonel Jackson discussed a broad variety of lessons covering a number of strategic topics including those relating to: Command, Prepare, and Protect. Commander Ray Glenn, from the Joint and Coalition Operational Analysis (JCOA), delivered the second presentation of this panel which presented findings from the JCOA's study on the Ebola Crisis which covered topics relating to Preparedness, Strategic Decision Making and the Implications for Future Operations. Major Jean-Baptiste Pohl (MD, MPh) from the French Direction Centrale du Service de Santé des Armée (DCSSA), then presented lessons from the French military engagement in Guinea in connection with the Ebola crisis.
The final panel speaker of the conference was Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Benjamin Queyriaux, the Deployment Health Surveillance Capability Head of the Military Medicine Centre of Excellence (MILMED COE). He reviewed NATO's lessons from the Ebola Crisis from the (MILMED COE's perspective, discussing the top five lessons and whether NATO is ready to face the next contagious disease outbreak.
After the last panel and discussion ended, BG Mîndrescu addressed the audience on how the Lessons Learned Community must continue to work to close the loop and drive the transformation cycle to ensure that NATO continues to be the learning organization that it is. He thanked everyone for their contribution and participation and cordially invited them to next year's conference.
photos by Ana Viotti