The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), as the Department Head for the Cyberspace Operations Discipline, held the 11th Cyberspace Operations Annual Discipline Conference on 31 March – 3 April 2025 at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
This four-day conference brought together key stakeholders and subject matter experts from across the NATO cyberspace education and training community to collaboratively shape the future of cyberspace operations training.
Strategic Focus and Collaborative Progress
The first day, dedicated exclusively to the core Cyberspace Operations Discipline team, provided a deep-dive into strategic developments since the previous Annual Discipline Conference, including reviews from the Cyberspace Operations Department Head, Allied Command Operations and NATO Communications and Information Systems Group. Key topics included the Strategic Training Plan, the implementation of Military Committee taskings and the development timelines for Cyberspace Operations-related courses.
The following days welcomed the broader education & training community and featured:
- A comprehensive review of training requirements
- Presentations from the education and training facilities of the discipline, including NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre, Regional Department of Defense Resources Management Studies, NATO School Oberammergau, NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, NATO Communications and Information Academy and Joint Warfare Centre
- Insights into the Naval Postgraduate School’s innovative work in post-quantum cryptography and cybersecurity
- Assessment of course-job alignment following the Discipline Alignment Plan from 2024 (DAP24) recommendations, with input from SHAPE J1
- Updates on doctrinal documents (e.g., AJP 3.20 Allied Joint Doctrine for Cyberspace Operations), ETEE (Education, Training, Exercise and Evaluation) policy, and multi-domain operations training methodologies
Special focus was also given to emerging digital technologies, the Cyber Coalition exercise, and the Multinational Capability Development Campaign, as well as the joint efforts between the NATO School Oberammergau and the NATO Cyberspace Operations Centre for a new e-learning course concentrating on Cyberspace Operations integration into Multi-Domain Operations.
Looking Ahead
The final day of the conference looked to the future, outlining the 12th Annual Discipline Conference in 2026, reinforcing continued work and collaboration on Military Committee taskings, and discussing national-level education and training initiatives. The day concluded with a collaborative session on the Discipline Alignment Plan, ensuring coherence and agility in adapting NATO’s cyberspace education to operational realities.
The 11th Cyberspace Operations Annual Discipline Conference once again proved to be a vital event for fostering synergy within the NATO cyberspace training ecosystem. As the digital domain continues to evolve, the CCDCOE remains committed to leading the alignment of education and training to ensure NATO forces are ready to operate effectively in cyberspace.