Security Committee (SC)

The SC also reviews and approves the supporting directives and guidance documents in the areas of personnel security, physical security, security of information, industrial security and communication and information systems (CIS) security. Furthermore, it considers security matters referred to it by the NAC, a member country, the NATO Secretary General, the Military Committee, the NATO Consultation, Command and Control (C3) Board, or the heads of NATO civil and military bodies, preparing appropriate recommendations on related subjects.

The SC is composed of representatives from each member country’s National Security Authority (NSA) supported, where required, by additional national security staff.  Representatives of the International Military Staff, Strategic Commands and NATO C3 Board are present at meetings of the SC, as may be representatives of NATO civil and military bodies when matters of interest to them are addressed.

The SC is chaired by the Director of the NATO Office of Security (NOS) and the day-to-day work of the committee is supported by the NOS.  The SC meets in different formats: at Principal’s level; in Security Policy (SP) format; and in CIS Security (CISS) format.  The SC may meet with partner countries, as appropriate.

The SC meets on a regular basis, holding a minimum of two meetings per year at Principal’s level.  The SC in SP and CISS formats also meets on a regular basis, as required.  The chair may be delegated to duly appointed staff members from the NOS.  The SC is directly responsible to the NAC – NATO’s main political decision-making body – and reports to it at least once a year on the progress of its work.