DCOS - Multi-Domain Force Development`s Message 2025

In 2025, NATO's Centres of Excellence (COEs) once again demonstrated their critical role in supporting the Alliance’s transformation and operational readiness. Their unique expertise and unwavering commitment to excellence were especially evident through close collaboration with NATO structures, particularly with Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation (HQ SACT).

Under the strategic guidance of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Multi-Domain Force Development and ACT’s COE Programme Development Branch, the COE network has continued to evolve. COEs are improving their effectiveness, aligning efforts, and sharing best practices across the network.

This year’s Annual Catalogue highlights once more the work of 30 NATO-accredited COEs and their contributions across the four pillars of the COE Programme of Work. Their services and deliverables continue to provide measurable value to NATO’s warfare development, concept innovation, and support to the warfighter.

COEs remain key enablers in education and individual training facilitating over 150 NATO-approved courses and training nearly 20,000 personnel annually. Their support to NATO exercise planning and execution ensures relevance, rigor, and real-world applicability.

Enhanced cooperation between HQ SACT, the Joint Force Training Centre, the Joint Warfare Center, and the COEs—driven by data, analysis, lessons learned and SME participation in training and exercises has led to better alignment of COE outputs with NATO priorities. In the domain of doctrine and standardization, COEs are custodians of 42 Allied publications and active contributors to the development and review of many more. Through concept development and experimentation, COEs have initiated over 300 projects, supporting the Alliance in anticipating future threats and identifying innovative solutions.

In the realm of doctrine and standardization, the COEs contribute significantly to the development of Level III doctrine publications. They currently act as custodians for 42 Allied documents and play a key role in developing and reviewing many more.

The impact of the COE network in 2025 is a direct result of the professionalism, leadership, and dedication of COE Directors and their teams. Their proactive engagement with NATO HQ and the broader Alliance community continues to strengthen our collective defence and forward-looking transformation.