Next week, General Philippe Lavigne, French Air and Space Force, will complete his three years in charge of Allied Command Transformation. In the most challenging period the Alliance has known in a generation, General Lavigne has worked diligently to prepare NATO for the future by developing the Alliance’s military instrument of power.
General Lavigne’s tenure over the last three years was marked by a period of unprecedented global change and uncertainty, characterized by rapidly evolving threats.
These included immediate threats, as demonstrated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or the continued asymmetric danger posed by terrorism, alongside the pervasive instability and challenges to our interests, security and values posed by Iranian and Chinese policies and activities. The growing partnership between China and Russia and their efforts to undermine the rules-based international order also serve to illustrate the interconnected nature of these challenges. NATO, faced with the resurgence of traditional security threats, exacerbated by new technologies and approaches, including in the field of cognition, was compelled to refocus decisively on one of its three core tasks: collective defence.
During his time in command, General Lavigne spearheaded transformative initiatives guided by NATO’s strategic objectives. His championing of Multi-Domain Operations and Digital Transformation ensured the Alliance remains at the forefront of modern warfare, able to deal with current and emerging threats. By modernizing the NATO Defence Planning Process, he enhanced the Alliance’s ability to adapt to evolving security challenges. Moreover, the successful military integration of three new allies strengthened NATO’s collective defence, underscoring its commitment to a unified and resilient Euro-Atlantic area. General Lavigne’s innovative approach, coupled with his emphasis on collaboration and teamwork, created a conducive environment for the Alliance to achieve its goals and prepare for the future of warfare.
Three achievements stand out in particular:
Developing Multi-Domain Operations as Supported by Digital Transformation
Allied Command Transformation has been at the forefront of NATO’s modernization efforts, championing the adoption of Multi-Domain Operations and driving the Digital Transformation of the Alliance. Recognizing the need for a more adaptable and interconnected military force, General Lavigne spearheaded initiatives to integrate land, air, maritime, cyber, and space domains.
Multi-Domain Operations is a paradigm shift, with the synchronization of military activities across all domains and environments. This integrated approach enables the Alliance to create desired outcomes more effectively by leveraging the combined power of its forces. Moreover, by coordinating military activities with non-military efforts, NATO can deter, influence adversary behaviour, shape the battlefield, and confront its adversaries with formidable challenges.
To support this shift in operational mindset, NATO has embarked on a comprehensive Digital Transformation. By 2030, the Alliance aims to create a digital-ready force capable of operating seamlessly in a multi-domain environment. General Lavigne ensured that Allied Command Transformation played a pivotal role in this transformation, leading numerous initiatives to enhance situational awareness, orchestrate operational effects, and adopt new technologies.
One of the key components of NATO’s digital transformation is the development of a secure and scalable cloud environment. This digital backbone will provide the foundation for Multi-Domain Operations, enabling the Alliance to share data, coordinate operations, and make informed decisions. Allied Command Transformation is equipping the Alliance with the tools and capabilities necessary to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Leading Military Integration of North Macedonia, Finland and Sweden
The command spearheaded the Accession and Integration Working Groups that successfully supported the military integration of North Macedonia, Finland, and Sweden into the Alliance. Through their efforts, these countries were able to streamline their path to operational readiness within NATO.
The accession of these new members reflects the evolving security landscape in Europe, particularly in the wake of Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. The long history of cooperation between NATO on the one hand and North Macedonia, Finland and Sweden on the other, fostered through programmes like the Partnership for Peace, made their membership a natural progression.
By ensuring seamless collaboration between member states and by promoting interoperability, Allied Command Transformation has helped NATO maintain a decisive military advantage. The successful integration of North Macedonia, Finland, and Sweden demonstrates the Alliance’s ability to adapt to changing geopolitical realities and strengthen its collective security.
Leading the Operational Plans’ integration into the NATO Defence Planning Process
Allied Command Transformation has played a pivotal role in modernizing the NATO Defence Planning Process. In response to the evolving security landscape and the ambitious goals outlined in the new Strategic Concept, the command has worked closely with NATO’s other strategic command, Allied Command Operations, to establish demanding capability requirements for the Alliance to be ready to fight tonight and tomorrow.
These requirements, by shaping a coherent military instrument of power, are essential for ensuring NATO’s ability to prevail against current and future threats. Through bilateral discussions, NATO determines the specific capability targets needed to achieve the desired effects, including those related to Multi-Domain Operations, space, and cyber. While the Alliance provides guidance and recommendations, member states have flexibility to innovate and develop capabilities that meet these objectives.
General Lavigne‘s leadership in this process was crucial for ensuring that NATO’s military instrument of power remains effective, and capable of prevailing over the next two decades. By driving the modernization of defence planning, the command is helping to position NATO as a strong and resilient force in the face of emerging challenges.
Allied Command Transformation was created in 2003 to ensure Alliance forces can keep a military edge against any and all adversaries, by contributing to the necessary thinking, capabilities, education and training that will entail.
As the recent Washington NATO Summit declaration stated, “We have accelerated NATO’s transformation to meet current and future threats and to maintain our technological edge, including through experimentation and more rapid adoption of emerging technologies, and through digital transformation” further supporting the paramount role Allied Command Transformation plays within NATO.
The command’s work harnesses innovative principles to enhance NATO’s ability to respond to threats with a speedy and agile military instrument of power. This ensures that NATO’s war fighting capabilities remain relevant, provides an indispensable understanding of current and future security challenges, and contributes to the development of NATO doctrine, concepts and interoperability standards. The Command is also responsible for NATO’s training and education programmes.
General Philippe Lavigne’s legacy as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation is one of exceptional leadership and strategic vision. His innovative approach, coupled with his unwavering commitment to NATO’s modernization, has positioned the Alliance for success in the face of evolving threats. General Lavigne was not only a skilled leader but also a compassionate and inspiring individual, whose personal qualities fostered a culture of collaboration, respect, and unwavering dedication to the Alliance’s mission.
Through his guidance, NATO has strengthened its capabilities, expanded its membership, and embraced cutting-edge technologies. As General Lavigne concludes his tenure, his contributions will undoubtedly continue to shape NATO’s future and ensure its enduring security.
