CDE Conference

Since 2001, the International Concept Development and Experimentation (CD&E) Conference, a NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and US Joint Staff co-sponsored annual forum provides an open space to discuss the most current issues relating to CD&E in the process of capability development. The 18th annual International Concept Development and Experimentation Conference took place 30 October through 1 November 2018. This year’s theme was CD&E: Confronting the Challenge of a Disrupted Security Environment. The 2018 conference promoted a collaborative approach to concept and capability development and shared the knowledge and experience garnered from 29 Nations’ expertise. The audience for the conference includes over 240 delegates from NATO countries. Other attendees will include those from NATO Partner Countries and partner organizations with concept development and experimentation backgrounds and experience. The three-day conference included keynote speakers, plenary sessions, four workshops, and the CD&E Exchange, a mini-expo. Workshop topics discussed challenges in the disrupted security environment, exploration of new concepts in autonomy, artificial intelligence, big data, future warfare and technologies, disruptive thinking and alternative problem formulation techniques.Disruptive technologies as Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy systems and weapons present huge technical and non-technical challenges in future conflicts (make-decision process, ethical issues, national approaches, impact in military operations, sharing data, new disruptive security scenarios,.). More complex questions have and will have to be answered so the Alliance can maintain an edge as a fighting force. All NATO COEs representatives participated in a Workshop (WS) on ”Concept management in NATO – Future collaboration” discussing with ACT staff (former Transformation Network Branch now changed to Concept Development Branch) and other delegates how to improve future collaboration in CD&E. The current ACT aims on CD&E is to update CDE Handbook applying project management principles and to be open to any new “disruptive idea”. A new methodology has to be considered. A smart present prepares Alliance for the unforeseen future. The 2019 International Concept and Development Conference will take place in Spain hosted by the Spanish Minister of Defense and the ESP Joint Staff and will be sponsored by the NATO Allied Command Transformation.

Colombian CIDES

During the 22nd -26th October, two members of the C-IED COE supported a NATO expert team to assess and recognize the Colombian CIDES (Centro Internacional de Desminado) to be a potential NATO Partner for Educational and Training (E&T) purpose as a PTEC. The NATO Team was composed by members of NATO HQ (IS/PASP), HQ SACT Joint Force Development, NATO School Oberammergau, C-IED Centre of Excellence, and two Pattern Training Educational Centre PTECs (US PLTCE and GE UN Training Centre NATO HQ). The visit was divided in three parts: - The Colombian Armed Forces could show their current capabilities, their organization and also the transformation and modernization through their Strategic Plan 2030. During these events we had the opportunity to have a meeting with the Ministry of Defense, the Chief of Defense and the three Chiefs of Staff (Army, Navy and Air Force). - Visit to Fort Tolemaida, where the CIDES and all the facilities are established. - Visit to Planadas region, where the Colombian Armed Forces are carrying out Humanitarian Demining in order to see in-situ their activities in demining. The visit to “CIDES” was focus in analyze the next capabilities/principles in order to become a PTEC and it was an opportunity for NATO to identify a potential partner that could be a real partner for E&T purpose and especially due to the area of expertise Colombia wants to propose to NATO (demining).

style="text-align: justify;">CSOC 18.3

From 15-19 October 2018 the C-IED Staff Officers Course (CSOC) 18.3 was conducted in the C-IED COE in Madrid. All participants completed the course successfully. This was the first iteration in which a member of a Joint Force Command was supporting the course. The course is designed for future C-IED Staff officers on an operational headquarter and the C-IED Cells of JFCBS and JFCNP do exactly that. To have a C-IED Staff Officer from a JFC as a briefer and a C-IED SME during the practical exercise was a great support for the attendees. The students did not learn only from the presentations and exercises, but now they also had the opportunty to learn from the experience and lessons learned from people actually doing the job.

Advanced reasearch Workshop

NATO SPS organized an “Advanced Research Workshop on Explosive Detection” event on 17-18 October 2018 at venue of the University of Florence, Italy. The aim of the event was to give platform and possibilities for the different scientists and researchers to present the status of their ongoing projects research development, sponsored by NATO SPS. Alternative objectives were to discuss the gained outcomes and look beyond the current situation, and look for the new trends and innovative solutions. Representatives from the NATO C-IED COE were also invited to this event for giving an insight view about the NATO SPS sponsored Defence Capacity Building (DCB) initiatives. This subject was unique in this forum because none of the other briefing talked such a military, security issues. Attending this event was important for C-IED COE, due to it was a possibility for the Center not only presenting the C-IED DCB activities but also promoting the COE and for establishing relationship with possible future collaborators, researchers and scientists. The workshop was very fruitful, the C-IED COE presentation was well received and some possible future cooperation might be foreseeable.