NATO committees and policy bodies form an indispensable part of NATO's decision-making process. The key committees are the North Atlantic Council (NAC), which is NATO's principal political decision-making body; the Nuclear Planning Group (NPG), which provides guidance on nuclear policy; and the Military Committee, NATO's highest military authority. These committees meet at different levels and provide a framework for member countries to exchange information, consult on various subjects, and make consensus-based decisions. In addition to these principal committees, the NAC oversees numerous other committees that focus on specific issues and report to the Council.

1. Introduction to NATO
How does NATO work?
1
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Specialized organizations and agencies of NATO
&
Key to the principal NATO committees and policy bodies
By: Samin& Adeola
What is NATO?
What does NATO do?
How does NATO work?NATO committees & policy bodies
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
How does NATO work?

2. What is NATO? What does NATO do? How does NATO work?
2
How does NATO work?
1. Consensus decision-making
2. Civil and military structure
3. Delegations
4. Main bodies
5. NATO Secretary General
6. International Staff
7. International Military Staff
8. Military command structure
9. Agencies
10. Paying for NATO
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

3. How does NATO work?
3
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Consensus decision-making
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
An inter-governmental
organization where
decisions are taken jointly
by each member country
Principle of consensus
applied at every
committee level
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

4. How does NATO work?
4
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Civil and military structure
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
National Authorities
Permanent Representatives
(Ambassadors to NATO)
International Military Staff
Military Representatives
to NATO
Allied Command
Transformation
Allied Command
Operations
Secretary General
Committees
subordinate to the
Council and NPG
Nuclear Planning
Group (NPG)
North Atlantic
Council (NAC)
Military Committee
(MC)
International Staff
Strategic Commands
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

5. How does NATO work?
5
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Delegations
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
 A national delegation per member country at
NATO HQ, Brussels
 Status of an Embassy
 Headed by an Ambassador or
Permanent Representative
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

6. How does NATO work?
6
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Main bodies
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
 North Atlantic Council
 Nuclear Planning Group
 Military Committee
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

7. 7
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
 Key political decision-making body
 Forum to discuss policy and operational questions
 Chaired by Secretary General
 Meets at different levels
 Established by Article 9 of Washington Treaty
 Authority to set up subsidiary bodies
 North Atlantic Council
 Nuclear Planning
Group
 Military Committee
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

8. 8
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
 Ultimate authority with regard to nuclear policy
issues
 Reviews the Alliance’s nuclear policy in the light of
changing security environment
 All members except for France
 Chaired by NATO Secretary General
 Meets at different levels
 North Atlantic Council
 Nuclear Planning
Group
 Military Committee
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

9. 9
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
 Senior military advisory authority
 Under authority of NAC and NPG
 Provides guidance to two strategic commanders
 Meets at different levels
 Chairman selected by Chiefs of Staff for
three-year term
 North Atlantic Counci
 Nuclear Planning
Council
 Military Committee
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

10. 10
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
NATO committees form an indispensable part of the
Alliance’s decision-making process. They provide the
framework within which member countries can
exchange information on a variety of subjects,
consult with each other and take decisions made on
the basis of consensus and common accord.
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
Committees

11. 11
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
The principal committees
The North Atlantic Council (NAC) is the principal political decision-making body within
NATO and the only committee that was established by the Alliance’s founding Treaty.
Under Article 9, the NAC is invested with the authority to set up "such subsidiary bodies
as may be necessary" for the purposes of implementing the Treaty. Over the years, the
Council has established a network of committees to facilitate the Alliance’s work and
deal with all subjects on its agenda.
The principal NATO committees are the NAC, the Nuclear Planning Group (NPG) and
the Military Committee. The Defence Planning Committee (DPC), which was also one of
NATO’s top decision-making bodies, was dissolved under the June 2010 committee
reform and its functions taken over by the NAC.
Committees
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

12. 12
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Committees reporting to the NAC
In addition to the NAC, the NPG and the Military Committee, there are a number of
committees that report directly to the Council. Some of these are themselves supported
by working groups, especially in areas such as defence procurement.
As part of the NATO reform process initiated in June 2010, which focused on the NATO
Command Structure and NATO Agencies, NATO Committees were also reviewed. As
such, committees reporting to the NAC now include the following:
Committees
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

13. 13
Main bodies
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
• Deputies Committee
 Political and Partnerships Committee
 Defense Policy and Planning Committee
 Committee on Proliferation
 C3 Board
 Operations Policy Committee
 High Level Task Force on Conventional Arms Control
 Verification Coordinating Committee
 Conference of National Armaments Directors
 Committee for Standardization
 Logistics Committee
 Resource Policy and Planning Board
 Air and Missile Defense Committee
 NATO Air Traffic Management Committee
 Civil Emergency Planning Committee
 Committee on Public Diplomacy
 Council Operations and Exercises Committee
 Security Committee
 Civilian Intelligence Committee
 Archives Commitee
 Additionally, there are institutions of cooperation, partnership and dialogue that underpin relations
between NATO and other countries.
 Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
 NATO-Russia Council
 NATO-Ukraine Commission
 NATO-Georgia Commission
Committees
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

14. How does NATO work?
14
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
NATO Secretary General
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
 Chairman of NATO’s senior committees and
decision facilitator
 Spokesperson
 Head of International Staff
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

15. How does NATO work?
15
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
International Staff
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
 Advisory and administrative body
 Supports work of Delegations
 Divided into divisions
 Staffed by nationals from member countries
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

16. How does NATO work?
16
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
International Staff
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
Political Affairs
and
Security Policy
Division
Operations
Division
Public
Diplomacy
Division
Defence Policy
and Planning
Division
Defence
Investment
Division
Senior Resource
Board
Civil and Military
Budget Committees
Secretary
General
Deputy Secretary
General
International Board
of Auditors
NATO Office of
Security
Executive
Management
Division
Office of Resources
Office of
the Financial
Controller
previous
Emerging
Security
Challenges
Division
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

17. How does NATO work?
17
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
International Military Staff
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
 Advisory and administrative body
 Supports work of Military committee
 Divided into divisions
 Staffed by nationals from member countries
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

18. How does NATO work?
18
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
International Military Staff
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO Intelligence
Division
Operations
Division
Plans
& Policy
Division
Cooperation
& Regional
Security
Division
Logistics
Armaments &
Resources
Division
NHQC3S*
Financial Controller
Legal Officer
Support Activities
Personnel
Public Information
Advisor
Director (DIMS)
Executive
Coordinator
SITCEN
* The NATO HQ Consultation, Command & Control (C3) Staffprevious
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

19. How does NATO work?
19
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Military command structure
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
 Allied Command Operations (ACO)
NATO operations
 Allied Command Transformation (ACT)
Alliance transformation
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

20. How does NATO work?
20
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Military Command Structure
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
previous
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

21. How does NATO work?
21
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Military Command Structure
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
previous
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

22. How does NATO work?
22
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Agencies
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
 Production and logistics
 Standardization
 Communications
 Research
 Other agencies and organizations
 Project offices
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

23. How does NATO work?
23
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
NATO Support Agency (NSPA)
The NATO Support Agency (NSPA) is NATO’s integrated logistics and services provider
Agency. The NSPA is a fully customer-funded agency, operating on a “no profit - no loss”
basis. It brings together NATO’s logistics and procurement support activities in a single
organization, providing integrated multinational support solutions for its stakeholders.
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
Support
Communications and
information
Science and
Technology (S&T)
NATO
Standardization
Agency (NSA)
Program Offices
Civil Emergency
Planning

24. How does NATO work?
24
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
The NATO Communications and Information Agency
(NCI Agency)
The NATO Communications and Information Agency – or NCI
Agency – acts as NATO’s principal Consultation, Command
and Control (C3) deliverer and Communications and
Information Systems (CIS) provider. It also provides IT-
support to NATO Headquarters, the NATO Command
Structure and NATO Agencies.
Support
Communications and
information
Science and
Technology (S&T)
NATO
Standardization
Agency (NSA)
Program Offices
Civil Emergency
Planning
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies

25. How does NATO work?
25
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
The NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO)
The NATO Science and Technology Organization
(STO) acts as NATO’s principal organization for
science and technology research.
It is composed of a Science and Technology Board (STB),
Scientific and Technical Committees and three Executive
Bodies; the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS), the
Collaboration Support Office (CSO), and the Centre for
Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE).
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
Support
Communications and
information
Science and Technology
(S&T)
NATO
Standardization
Agency (NSA)
Program Offices
Civil Emergency
Planning

26. How does NATO work?
26
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
NATO Standardisation Agency (NSA)
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
Support
Communications and
information
Science and Technology
(S&T)
NATO Standardization
Agency (NSA)
Program Offices
Civil Emergency
Planning

27. How does NATO work?
27
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
The NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Program
Management Organization (NAPMO)
Specialized organizations and agencies- Key to the principle NATO committees and policy Bodies
Air Traffic Management,
Air Defence
Airborne Early Warning
Electronic Warfare
Meteorology
Education and Training
NATO accredited Centres of
Excellence
Project Steering
Committees/Project
Offices
NATO'S EYE IN THE SKY
The NATO Airborne Early Warning &
Control (NAEW&C) Program is often
cited as one of the most successful
collaborative ventures ever undertaken
by the Alliance. The fleet of 17 E-3A
aircraft represents the world’s first
multi-national, fully integrated Air Force
and is one of the few military assets
that is actually owned and operated by
NATO.

28. How does NATO work?
28
What is NATO? What does NATO do?
Paying for NATO
Consensus decision-
making
Civil and military structure
Delegations
Main bodies
NATO Secretary General
International Staff
International Military Staff
Military command structure
Agencies
Paying for NATO
 Indirect contributions
 Direct contributions - principle of common funding
 Civil budget
 Military budget
 NATO’s Security Investment Programme

29. 29
Paying for NATO
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
 Operating costs of the International Staff
 Civilian programmes
 Running costs of HQ facilities
 Conference services
 Meetings of NATO committees
 Security services
 Civil budget
 Military budget
 NATO’s Security
Investments
Programme

30. 30
Paying for NATO
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
 Operating and maintenance costs of the
international military structure
 Military Committee
 International Military Staff
 Agencies
 Two strategic commands and associated command,
control and information systems
 Research and development agencies
 NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force
 Operating costs of NATO peacekeeping command
structures
 Civil budget
 Military budget
 NATO’s Security
Investments
Programme

31. 31
Paying for NATO
How does NATO work?What is NATO? What does NATO do?
 Major construction and system Investments that
exceed national defence requirements of individual
member countries
 Communications and information systems
 Radar
 Military HQ
 Airfields
 Fuel pipelines and storage
 Harbours
 Civil budget
 Military budget
 NATO’s Security
Investments
Programme