Allied Command Transformation

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NATO strategic-level military command

title: "Allied Command Transformation" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["allied-command-transformation", "military-units-and-formations-in-virginia", "military-units-and-formations-established-in-2003", "2003-establishments-in-the-united-states", "united-states-and-nato"] description: "NATO strategic-level military command" topic_path: "history/military" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_Command_Transformation" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary NATO strategic-level military command ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox military unit"]

FieldValue
unit_nameAllied Command Transformation

| | image | [[File:Emblem of Allied Command Transformation.svg|center|150px]] | | caption | Emblem | | start_date | 19 June 2003 | | command_structure | NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization | | garrison | Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia, USA | | garrison_label | Headquarters | | website | | | commander1 | Admiral Pierre Vandier , since 23 September 2024 | | commander1_label | Supreme Allied Commander Transformation | | misc | {{collapsible list | | title | | | name | NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre | | founding_leader | ACT (with HQ SACT) | | founder | [[File:NATO OTAN landscape logo.svg|22px]] North Atlantic Council (NAC) | | leader2_title | Founding directives | | leader2_name | Knowledge repository (ongoing, other wars) | | other_name | JATEC | | political_leader | NAC, with | | military_leader | SACT | | leader1_title | JATEC Commander | | leader1_name | BRG Wojciech Ozga | | leader | (first) GAA Philippe Lavigne Admiral Pierre Vandier (since SEP 23, 2024) | | leader3_title | Organization type | | leader3_name | Sui generis jointly-run | | foundation | July 11, 2024 | | dates | December 16, 2024-present | | country | | | crimes | War learning (military education and training) | | allegiance | | | motives | | | headquarters | Bydgoszcz, PL (OpCenter) | | status | Multinational, active | | size | ~70 personnel | | partof | JALLC-UKR Initiative | | allies | {{Collapsible list|titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal; | | title | Contributing countries: | | opponents | (to be deterred): | | website | | | module | {{collapsible list|title=Notes| | | module2 | {{collapsible list | | title | | | unit_name | (JATEC) OTAN-Ukraine centre commun d'analyse, d'entraînement et d'éducation (CCAEE, French) | | image | 2ABCT 1AD Participates in LOYAL LEDA 24 at the NATO Joint Force Training Centre (8271436).jpg | | image_size | 300px | | caption | Center platz | | native_name | Об'єднаний центр аналізу, підготовки та освіти «НАТО–Україна» (ОЦАПО, Ukrainian) | | allegiance | | | start_date | (activated) (IOC) (expected) JAN 2026 (FOC) | | type | NATO-Ukraine jointly run "sui generis" civil-military working level organization | | role | | | size | 74 personnel (incl. 20 Ukrainians) | | command_structure | [[File:Emblem of Allied Command Transformation.svg|18px]] ACT | | garrison | , 1 Potockiego Str. 85-309, Bydgoszcz, PL-04, Poland | | garrison_label | Ops. Center | | commander1 | (first holder) BRG Wojciech Ozga | | commander1_label | Commander 1-star rank | | commander2 | (first holder) COL Val. Vyshnivskyi [[File:Ensign of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.svg|18px]] Armed Forces of Ukraine | | commander2_label | DIR Program Implementation | | commander3_label | Chair Senior Advisory Board | | commander3 | (first holder) Tom Goffus, retired colonel, A-SG of NATO Ops. | | misc | }} | | name | | | date | Command structure | | parent | HQ SACT (under SACT Admiral Pierre Vandier) | | subordinate | Ukrainian Director (under COM) Under DCOM: | | module3 | {{right|{{ubl|COL Tom Goffus, A-SG, NATO Ops.{{efn|Chairman of the Board. Chaired the 25 April 2025 SAB Kyiv meeting with agenda (below): | | * Fast-tracking innovation against current battlefield threats (notably fiber-optic drones and precision-guided munitions).{{cite web |title | Senior NATO advisors meet in Kyiv to discuss priorities for joint NATO-Ukraine lessons learned centre |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_234864.htm |date=25 April 2025 |publisher=NATO Press Office |via=NATO.int |access-date=25 August 2025}}}}|BRG Wojciech Ozga, COM JATEC|BRG Serhii Boiev, Deputy MinDef UA|BRG Oleh Apostol, Deputy CiC AFU|Patrick Turner, Head of the NRU|Polish AF representatives}}}} | | module4 | {{collapsible list|title=Footnotes| | ::

| unit_name=Allied Command Transformation

|image=[[File:Emblem of Allied Command Transformation.svg|center|150px]] |caption=Emblem |start_date=19 June 2003 |command_structure=NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization | garrison=Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia, USA | garrison_label=Headquarters |disbanded= |website= | commander1=Admiral Pierre Vandier , since 23 September 2024 | commander1_label= Supreme Allied Commander Transformation |commander2= |commander2_label= |notable_commanders= | misc = {{collapsible list |title= | {{Infobox militant organization | name = NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre | founding_leader = ACT (with HQ SACT) | founder = [[File:NATO OTAN landscape logo.svg|22px]] North Atlantic Council (NAC) | leader2_title = Founding directives | leader2_name = Knowledge repository (ongoing, other wars) | logo = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | other_name = JATEC | political_leader = NAC, with | military_leader = SACT | leader1_title = JATEC Commander | leader1_name = BRG Wojciech Ozga | leader = (first) GAA Philippe Lavigne Admiral Pierre Vandier (since SEP 23, 2024) | leader3_title = Organization type | leader3_name = Sui generis jointly-run | foundation = July 11, 2024 | dates = December 16, 2024-present | dissolved = | merger = | split = | predecessor = | merged = | successor = | country = | crimes = War learning (military education and training) | allegiance = | motives = | area = | headquarters = Bydgoszcz, PL (OpCenter) |slogan = |anthem = | status = Multinational, active | size = ~70 personnel | partof = JALLC-UKR Initiative | allies = {{Collapsible list|titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal; |title = Contributing countries: |NATO members' forces, except: |• [[File:Flag of a Belgian General.png|23px]] Belgian Armed Forces |• |• |• [[File:Flag of the Chief of the Defence Staff (Spain).svg|23px]] Spanish Armed Forces Components of partner's military: |[[File:Flag of the Georgian Armed Forces.svg|23px]] Defence Forces of Georgia | | opponents = (to be deterred): |battles = |flag = | website = | module = {{collapsible list|title=Notes| | module2 = {{collapsible list |title= |{{Infobox military unit | unit_name = (JATEC) OTAN-Ukraine centre commun d'analyse, d'entraînement et d'éducation (CCAEE, French) | image = 2ABCT 1AD Participates in LOYAL LEDA 24 at the NATO Joint Force Training Centre (8271436).jpg | image_size = 300px | alt = | caption =Center platz | native_name = Об'єднаний центр аналізу, підготовки та освіти «НАТО–Україна» (ОЦАПО, Ukrainian) | allegiance = | start_date = (activated) (IOC) (expected) JAN 2026 (FOC) |disbanded = | type = NATO-Ukraine jointly run "sui generis" civil-military working level organization | role = | size = 74 personnel (incl. 20 Ukrainians) | command_structure = [[File:Emblem of Allied Command Transformation.svg|18px]] ACT | garrison = , 1 Potockiego Str. 85-309, Bydgoszcz, PL-04, Poland | garrison_label = Ops. Center | nickname = | commander1 = (first holder) BRG Wojciech Ozga

| commander1_label = Commander 1-star rank | commander2 = (first holder) COL Val. Vyshnivskyi [[File:Ensign of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.svg|18px]] Armed Forces of Ukraine | commander2_label = DIR Program Implementation | commander3_label = Chair Senior Advisory Board | commander3 =(first holder) Tom Goffus, retired colonel, A-SG of NATO Ops. | notable_commanders = | identification_symbol = | identification_symbol_label = | misc =}} | name = | date =Command structure | parent = HQ SACT (under SACT Admiral Pierre Vandier) | subordinate =Ukrainian Director (under COM) Under DCOM: | module3 = {{right|{{ubl|COL Tom Goffus, A-SG, NATO Ops.{{efn|Chairman of the Board. Chaired the 25 April 2025 SAB Kyiv meeting with agenda (below):

  • Integration of Ukrainian and NATO efforts at JATEC
  • Building resilience in defense digital infrastructure and critical systems
  • Strengthening military education and interoperability programs
  • Fast-tracking innovation against current battlefield threats (notably fiber-optic drones and precision-guided munitions).}}|BRG Wojciech Ozga, COM JATEC|BRG Serhii Boiev, Deputy MinDef UA|BRG Oleh Apostol, Deputy CiC AFU|Patrick Turner, Head of the NRU|Polish AF representatives}}}} |module4 = {{collapsible list|title=Footnotes|

The Allied Command Transformation ( ACT; ) is a military command of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), formed in 2003 after restructuring.

It was intended to lead military transformation of alliance forces and capabilities, using new concepts such as the NATO Response Force and new doctrines in order to improve the alliance's military effectiveness. When France rejoined the NATO Military Command Structure in mid-2009, a significant change took place where the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) became a French officer. The first French officer to serve as SACT was French Air Force General Stephane Abrial (2009–2012).

ACT is organized around four principal functions: Strategic thinking; Development of capabilities; Education, training and exercises; and Co-operation and engagement. These functions are reflected in the composition of Allied Command Transformation which has its Headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia and three subordinate entities in Norway (JWC), in Poland (JFTC) and in Portugal (JALLS).

History

Allied Command Atlantic 1952 to 2003

Allied Command Transformation was preceded by Allied Command Atlantic (ACLANT) established in 1952 under the overall command of Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT), with its headquarters at Norfolk, Virginia. ACLANT's purpose was to guard the sea lines of communication between North America and Europe in order to reinforce the European countries of NATO with U.S. troops and supplies in the event of a Soviet/Warsaw Pact invasion of Western Europe. Following the end of the Cold War, the Command was reduced, with many of its subordinate headquarters spread across the Atlantic area losing their NATO status and funding. However, the basic structure remained in place until the Prague Summit in the Czech Republic in 2002. This led to ACLANT being decommissioned effective 19 June 2003, and a new Allied Command Transformation being established as its successor.

Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. US Navy became the last SACLANT on 2 October 2002. He served as ACLANT commander until 19 Jun 2003. He then served as Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation, until 1 Aug 2005. Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope RN, the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, then served as Acting Supreme Allied Commander until the arrival of General Lance L. Smith USAF in November 2005.

After the Cold War

At the 2002 Prague Summit, it was decided that NATO should change its military structures and concepts, and acquire new types of equipment to face the operational challenges of coalition warfare against the threats of the new century. Thus NATO's military command structure was reorganized. One strategic command, Allied Command Transformation, was focused on transforming NATO, while the other strategic command focused on NATO's operations, Allied Command Operations. Initial reports about a NATO transformation command began to appear in July 2002. ACT was formally established on June 19, 2003.

A suite of "Baseline for Rapid Iterative Transformational Experimentation" (BRITE) software was designed in response to the Maritime Situational Awareness request. This request, a product of a U.S. international and inter-agency initiatives termed "Maritime Domain Awareness", serves to counter threats to the maritime commons including terrorism, human/drug smuggling, piracy, and espionage.

Since Allied Command Atlantic became Allied Command Transformation, commanders have included non-naval officers. Gen. Lance L. Smith USAF commanded ACT from 10 Nov 2005 until 9 Nov 2007. He was succeeded by Gen. James N. Mattis USMC, who served from 9 Nov 2007 - 08 Sep 2009. A significant change was the assumption of command by a French officer, after France rejoined the NATO Command Structure in mid-2009. General Stéphane Abrial, former chief of the French Air Force assumed command in 2009. French Air Force General Jean-Paul Paloméros replaced Abrial at the end of September 2012. On 30 September 2015 French Air Force General Denis Mercier succeeded General Paloméros, in September 2018 General André Lanata succeeded General Mercier, and in 2021 General Philippe Lavigne succeeded General Lanata.

The Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation position is filled by General Chris Badia of the German Air Force. He succeeded General Paolo Ruggiero, Italian Army, who succeeded Admiral Manfred Nielson, German Navy, who succeeded General Mirco Zuliani of the Italian Air Force, General Mieczysław Bieniek of the Polish Land Forces, Admiral Luciano Zappata (Italian Navy) and Admiral Stanhope. For several years, in a carryover from SACLANT, the Deputy's position was filled by a Royal Navy admiral. Stanhope's succession by Zappata meant an end to this practice.

Responsibilities

Allied Command Transformation's current mission is to:

  • provide the conceptual framework for the conduct of future combined joint operations;
  • define how future operations will be conducted and what capabilities they will need;
  • take new operational concepts, from others or self-generated, assess their viability and value, and bring them to maturity through doctrine development, scientific research, experimentation and technological development;
  • implement both by persuading nations, individually and collectively, to acquire the capability, and provide the education and training, enabling concepts to be implemented by NATO forces.

A large number of conferences and seminars have been organised by the command in fulfilment of its conceptual development mission. These have included CD&E, a national Chiefs of Transformation conference, an examination of the Global Commons, Law of Armed Conflict, and a Multiple Futures project.

Structure

The command's headquarters is in Norfolk, Virginia, in the United States. HQ SACT itself is organised into a command group, the Transformation Directorate, the Transformation Support Directorate, National Liaison Representatives, the Partnership for Peace Staff Element and Reservists responsible to HQ SACT.

The Transformation Directorate is headed by the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) Transformation who acts as the Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation's (SACT) Director for guidance and coordination of the activities of their Directorate Transformation, divided in two divisions: Implementation and Capabilities. Within the full scale of SACT's transformational responsibilities the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) Transformation assists the Chief of Staff (COS) in the execution of his or her duties with emphasis on deliverables to the Alliance Military Transformation Process in order to enhance NATO's operational capabilities and to meet NATO's future requirements.

The Implementation Division, led by Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) Implementation, is responsible for guidance and coordination of the activities of two Sub-Divisions, Joint Education and Training (JET) and Joint Experimentation, Exercises and Assessment (JEEA), as well as providing guidance for the Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) and Joint Analysis Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC), in their efforts to enhance training programs, to carry out concept development and experimentation, to press on common standards, and to develop effective programs to capture and implement lessons learned. This division probablyis there some doubt? serves as NATO's linkpoint to the annual U.S.-led Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration.

The Capabilities Division, led by Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) Capabilities, is responsible for guidance and coordination of the activities of three Sub-Divisions: of Strategic Concepts, Policy and Interoperability (SCPI); Future Capabilities, Research and Technology (FCRT) and Defence Planning (Def Plan) in their efforts to staff Capabilities, Concepts and Development products.

Subordinate commands

Reflecting NATO as a whole, ACT has a presence on both sides of the Atlantic. Before the deactivation of United States Joint Forces Command, the two organisations were co-located, and indeed shared a commander for some time. There is an ACT command element located at SHAPE in Mons, Belgium. ACT's major subordinate commands are the Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) in Stavanger, Norway; the Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC) in Bydgoszcz, Poland; and the Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC) in Monsanto, Portugal. Under a customer-funded arrangement, ACT invests about 30 million Euros into research with the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) each year to support scientific and experimental programs.

NATO Centres of Excellence

Centres of Excellence (COE) offers expertise and experience to the benefit of the Alliance; most are single-nation sponsored, but some are sponsored by multiple members. A COE is not a part of the NATO Military Command Structure, but their activities with NATO are coordinated through Headquarters SACT. Since COEs are predominantly multinational entities, most COEs are overseen by a steering committee (SC), that sets the programme of work and approves the budget for the COE.

Leadership

Supreme Allied Commander Transformation

| showorder = y | showimage = y | image_title = Portrait | officeholder_title = Supreme Allied Commander | showtermlenght = y | showparty = n | showdefencebranch = y | order = 1 | image = Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr., JFCOM.jpg |bSize = 95 | military_rank = Admiral | officeholder = Edmund Giambastiani | officeholder_sort = Giambastiani, Edmund | born_year = 1948 | died_year = | term_start = 19 June 2003 | term_end = 19 June 2005 | timeinoffice = | defence_branch = | order = 2 | image = Lance L Smith.jpg |bSize = 95 | military_rank = General | officeholder = Lance L. Smith | officeholder_sort = Smith, Lance | born_year = 1946 | died_year = | term_start = 10 November 2005 | term_end = 9 November 2007 | timeinoffice = | defence_branch = | order = 3 | image = Gen James N. Mattis.jpg |bSize = 95 | military_rank = General | officeholder = James Mattis | officeholder_sort = Mattis, Jim | born_year = 1950 | died_year = | term_start = 9 November 2007 | term_end = 9 September 2009 | timeinoffice = | defence_branch = | order = 4 | image = General Stéphane Abrial 080524-f-1014w-154.jpg |bSize = 95 | military_rank = Général d'armée Aérienne | officeholder = Stéphane Abrial | officeholder_sort = Abrial, Stéphane | born_year = 1954 | died_year = | term_start = 9 September 2009 | term_end = 28 September 2012 | timeinoffice = | defence_branch = | order = 5 | image = Jean-Paul Paloméros cropped.JPG |bSize = 95 | military_rank = Général d'armée Aérienne | officeholder = Jean-Paul Paloméros | officeholder_sort = Paloméros, Jean | born_year = 1953 | died_year = | term_start = 28 September 2012 | term_end = 30 September 2015 | timeinoffice = | defence_branch = | order = 6 | image = Denis Mercier 04299 général.jpg |bSize = 95 | military_rank = Général d'armée Aérienne | officeholder = Denis Mercier | officeholder_sort = Mercier, Denis | born_year = 1959 | died_year = | term_start = 30 September 2015 | term_end = 11 September 2018 | timeinoffice = | defence_branch = | order = 7 | image = Portrait - André Lanata.jpg |bSize = 95 | military_rank = Général d'armée Aérienne | officeholder = André Lanata | officeholder_sort = Lanata, André | born_year = 1961 | died_year = | term_start = 11 September 2018 | term_end = 23 September 2021 | timeinoffice = | defence_branch = | order = 8 | image = Philippe_Lavigne.png |bSize = 95 | military_rank = Général d'armée Aérienne | officeholder = Philippe Lavigne | officeholder_sort = Lavigne, Philippe | born_year = 1965 | died_year = | term_start = 23 September 2021 | term_end = 23 September 2024 | timeinoffice = | defence_branch = | order = 9 | image = Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), in his office in the Pentagon, USA on October 15, 2024 (cropped).jpg |bSize = 95 | military_rank = Admiral | officeholder = Pierre Vandier | officeholder_sort = Vandier, Pierre | born_year = 1967 | died_year = | term_start = 23 September 2024 | term_end = Present | timeinoffice = | defence_branch =

Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation

::data[format=table]

No.NamePictureBegan officeEnd officeDefence branch
1Admiral Sir Ian Forbes
(born 1946)1 July 200310 July 2004
2Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope
(born 1952)[[File:Sir Mark Stanhope farewell (cropped).jpg95px]]10 July 20043 July 2007
3Admiral Luciano Zappata[[File:Luciano Zappata and Alojz Šteiner.jpg95px]]3 July 200729 September 2010
4General Mieczysław Bieniek
(born 1951)[[File:Mieczysław Bieniek.JPG95px]]29 September 20103 September 2013Poland Polish Land Forces
5General Mirco Zuliani
(born 1953)[[File:Gen. Mirco Zuliani.jpg95px]]3 September 201324 March 2016Italy Italian Air Force
6Admiral Manfred Nielson
(born 1955)[[File:Admiral Manfred Nielson DSACT.jpg95px]]24 March 201619 July 2019Germany German Navy
7General Paolo Ruggiero
(born 1957)[[File:DSACT2019.jpg95px]]19 July 20197 July 2022Italy Italian Army
8General Christian Badia
(born 1963)[[File:General Chris Badia.jpgalt=General Chris BadiaGeneral Chris Badia95px]]7 July 2022
9General Aurelio Colagrande11 July 2025Italy Italian Air Force
::

Notes

References

References

  1. (17 February 2025). "Joint NATO-Ukraine training center opens in Poland". [[The New Voice of Ukraine]].
  2. (18 February 2025). "Ukraine, NATO to jointly build up experience at JATEC – Stefanishyna: Exclusive". [[Ukrinform]].
  3. "Bydgoszcz – the NATO Capital of Poland". The Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC).
  4. (17 February 2025). "NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre opens!". Ministry of Defence of Poland.
  5. Onyshchenko, Yurii. (17 February 2025). "NSATU та JATEC: як працюють нові структури НАТО, що допомагають Україні [NSATU and JATEC: How New NATO's Structure Elements Helping Ukraine Work]".
  6. (25 April 2025). "Senior NATO advisors meet in Kyiv to discuss priorities for joint NATO-Ukraine lessons learned centre". NATO Press Office.
  7. (17 April 2025). "Patrick Turner, 2024".
  8. "Ukraine and NATO outline JATEC priorities for 2026".
  9. "Strengthening cooperation with NATO to Advance Ukraine's Membership in the Alliance: Rustem Umerov".
  10. "Final Communiqué following the meeting of the North Atlantic Council on 17 September 1949".
  11. "The North Atlantic Treaty, [Article 14]".
  12. "FACTSHEET–April 22, 2022–Allied Command Transformation (ACT), Norfolk, VA".
  13. (19 June 2003). "New NATO Transformation Command Established in Norfolk". United States Department of Defense.
  14. Colin Robinson, 'NATO's Command Structure Prepares for Shakeup', [[Center for Defense Information]], 2 July 2002.
  15. [http://hamptonroads.com/node/291231 Outgoing NATO deputy commander has seen growing pains], Virginian-Pilot, July 3, 2007
  16. "NATO ACT".
  17. Allied Command Transformation, [http://www.act.nato.int/general-info/history-of-allied-command-transformation ACT History] {{webarchive. link. (2012-06-25 , accessed November 2012)
  18. "Who We Are".
  19. "Nato Centres of Excellence".
  20. "NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence".
  21. (2012-05-15). "7th Steering Committee Meeting". Coemed.org.
  22. [https://www.act.nato.int/article/dsact-cor-2025/ Allied Command Transformation Bids Farewell to General Chris Badia, Welcomes General Aurelio Colagrande as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation] NATO Allied Command Transformation, 11 July 2025

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allied-command-transformationmilitary-units-and-formations-in-virginiamilitary-units-and-formations-established-in-20032003-establishments-in-the-united-statesunited-states-and-nato