The fifth panel explored the cultural change required to maintain NATO’s decision advantage in a MDO environment. In a hybrid battlespace where collaboration is essential, leaders must adapt to work seamlessly with other instruments of power and new partners such as industry. The abundance of information offers opportunities for informed decision-making and human–machine teaming, but only if leadership culture evolves to embrace openness, agility and trust. Perspectives from NATO leadership, academia, defence education, and industry will highlight how to accelerate this cultural shift and prepare future leaders for effective command in a complex decision environment.
Panellists: CSEL CWO Mark Veraart, Mr. Henrik Sommer, Mr. Uwe Kutzki, and Dr. Thomas Crosbie
Key Takeaways:
- Leadership fundamentals endure, but their application must evolve. Modern leaders must be flexible, practical, and able to mentor subordinates in real-world situations, not just rely on theory.
- The battlefield is multi-domain and cognitively demanding. Effective performance now requires continuous learning, technological literacy, and an understanding of complex, interconnected operating environments.
- Modern leadership emphasizes inclusivity, trust, and communication. Explaining the purpose behind decisions, empowering subordinates, and cultivating accountability are essential to motivating today’s soldiers.
- Training and education need significant reform. Forces must break down organizational silos, incorporate experimentation, integrate emerging technologies, and redesign professional military education to prepare personnel for multi-domain collaboration.
- Human capability remains the decisive advantage. While advanced technology and AI are increasingly important, adaptability, character, teamwork, and trust are the true determinants of success.
Summary of the panel discussion:
Military leadership and culture must adapt to a complex, multi-domain battlefield while preserving core values. Leadership fundamentals are seen as timeless, but their application must be flexible and practical. Effective leaders are expected to assume command, mentor juniors, and build character through everyday actions, not abstract theory alone.
Modern operations extend across land, air, sea, cyber, and space, as well as the less visible cognitive and information domains. This environment demands continuous learning, strong judgment, and a deep understanding of current and future warfare. Soldiers with discipline, fighting spirit, and an unwavering drive for mission success, whether on the front lines or operating drones remotely, remain essential. Leadership is framed as transformational and inclusive, based on trust, empowerment, clear communication, and explaining the purpose behind decisions.
The discussion addressed culture, education, technology, and trust, highlighting generational differences, the impact of advanced technologies such as AI, and the shift from map-centric, manual processes to data-centric, automated approaches. Professional military education was identified as a key lever for change but in need of overhaul to address MDO, especially cooperation with non-military actors. Trust between people, across nations, and in machines is both essential and difficult, and something that can only be built through realistic experimentation, transparent use of technology, and a sustained focus on developing people as the decisive element in warfare.
