NORFOLK, VA – The winners of the NATO Allied Command Transformation Student Challenge arrived in Norfolk, VA, NATO’s home in North America, for a series of discussions with senior political and military leadership. The challenge focused on the impacts of emerging and disruptive technologies on transformation of NATO.
Senior military and political officials from Allied Command Transformation received the winners of the NATO Transformation Student Challenge for a series of discussions on emerging technologies, including their potential applications, impacts on transformation, and security implications. The winners and their topic proposals were:
- NeuroaNATOmy of Data: How the Alliance May Embrace Opportunities and Mitigate Risks from Emerging Neurotechnologies, by Kirellos Miseih
- Between Fast-Tempo and the Fog of War: The TIME-(UN)CERTAINTY DILEMMA by Lorenzo Cavallon and Guido Buccardi
- NATO’s Digital Twin, by Pablo Lopez
“I believe that each of us has the potential to make the world, and NATO, a better place. I really want to contribute first-hand, taking this amazing opportunity to talk with high ranking political and military staff of NATO” shared Guido Buccardi, an Italian student who is currently studying International Security at the Sciences Po – Paris School of International Affairs. Allied Command Transformation serves as the Strategic Warfare Development Command of NATO; enabling youth and next-generational understandings is a key priority of Allied Command Transformation leadership. Lorenzo Cavallon, also a student at the Sciences Po – Paris School of International Affairs, shared his thoughts about better understanding: “I want to research further, and if possible, contribute to the future of our Alliance.”
Emerging disruptive technologies have great potential for development, research, and understanding, as these technologies generally supersede older processes or products, but often require more flexible and adaptive approaches. “In my proposal, I highlighted the information security issues that are increasing due to the proliferation of new technologies. I approach this from the cooperation between government, academia, and industry,” shared Kirellos Miseih, a student of International Conflict Studies at King’s College London.
Pablo Ortiz, from the University of Navarra, shared his reflections for future participants:
“Dream loudly, dream high. NATO commanders are looking to hear from us.”
Allied Command Transformation routinely organizes research challenges, bringing together innovation, academia, and the next generation of leaders from throughout the Alliance.