Logistics Committee

 

 

Role and responsibilities

The LC is responsible for coordinating:

• policy development and planning on civil and military logistics matters,
• logistics interoperability among NATO Allies, and
• logistics cooperation with partners.

As new Alliance concepts, visions and technologies emerge, the LC ensures that the necessary logistics support concepts are in place and in line with NATO’s strategic aims.

 “NATO Principles and Policies for Logistics” (MC 319/2) is a key document that establishes the principle of “collective responsibility” for logistics support between national and NATO authorities. It is based on the idea that both NATO and participating countries are responsible for the logistics support of NATO military activities, which are characterised by close coordination and cooperation between national and NATO authorities during the planning and execution of logistics activities.

In 2024, the Logistics Action Plan was approved by the North Atlantic Council. This Plan provides a mechanism for organising and directing the efforts needed to deliver the changes necessary in logistics, taking into account NATO’s requirements for deterrence and defence, the implementation of NATO’s defence plans, and contributions to NATO crisis management operations. The Logistics Committee will monitor the implementation of the relevant action items from the Plan, ensuring the timely delivery of functional advice to NATO decision-making bodies (the Military Committee and the North Atlantic Council).

 

Membership

The LC is a joint civil/military body where all member countries are represented, with senior national civil and military representatives from Ministries of Defence or equivalent bodies with responsibility for consumer aspects of logistics. Representatives of the Strategic Commands, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), the NATO Standardization Office, the Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services in NATO, and other staff from NATO Headquarters or other relevant entities also participate in the work of the LC.

The LC has two permanent co-chairs: the Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning and the Deputy Chair of the Military Committee. The Committee is supported jointly by dedicated staff in the International Staff (IS) and the International Military Staff (IMS).

 

Subordinate bodies

The LC carries out its work through a number of subordinate bodies, including:

The Logistics Committee Executive Group (LCEG)

The LCEG is the LC’s principal subordinate body, providing advice on general logistics matters. The LCEG develops logistics policies, programmes and initiatives for the LC’s consideration. It monitors and coordinates the implementation of these activities through consultation among Allies, the Strategic Commands, and other NATO and non-NATO entities, as appropriate. It also provides a forum for raising awareness about logistics concerns and sharing best practices and solutions to logistics challenges. The LCEG coordinates with other relevant bodies to facilitate coherence of the LC’s broader agenda.

The LCEG meets at least twice a year and is co-chaired by senior representatives of the International Staff and International Military Staff.

The Movement and Transportation Group (M&TG)

The M&TG advises the LC on movement and transportation matters, and monitors and coordinates the implementation of related policies, programmes and initiatives through consultation and cooperation among countries, the NATO Military Authorities, NATO transportation and transportation-related groups and agencies, and non-NATO entities, as necessary.

The M&TG is co-chaired by representatives from the International Staff and International Military Staff, and meets twice a year.

The Operational Energy Committee (OEC)

The OEC is the principal advisory body to the Logistics Committee for logistics support on all matters related to sustainable and interoperable energy supply in support of NATO operations. The OEC is responsible for the strategic and policy direction, planning guidance, and general coordination of activities covering the full spectrum of operational energy issues, including related efforts to address the global energy transition. It also covers infrastructure to receive, store, transport and distribute energy in times of peace, crisis and conflict, including the NATO Pipeline System (NPS).

The OEC is co-chaired by representatives from NATO’s International Staff (Defence Policy and Planning Division) and International Military Staff (Logistics & Resources Division). It meets twice a year.

When needed, the LCEG, M&TG and OEC can all form ad-hoc working groups to carry out specific tasks that require particular expertise.

 

Working with other committees and agencies

Given the civil and commercial dimension of consumer logistics, the LC also cooperates closely with the Resilience Committee (RC). The RC is responsible for coordinating the use of civil resources to support the Alliance’s overall defence efforts, through a whole-of-government approach. The LC periodically meets in joint session with the RC and other bodies, such as the Defence Policy and Planning Committee, as necessary. In addition, RC and LC subordinate bodies also work together.  For example, the Resilience Committee’s Transport Group, which is comprised of three separate Planning Groups (Inland Surface Transport, Civil Aviation and Ocean Shipping), is also represented on the Logistics Committee’s Movement and Transportation Group.

The LC also works with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, the NATO Standardization Office and the Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services in NATO.

 

Evolution

Since the early years of NATO, ‘logistics conferences’ were a feature of planning within NATO’s military structures. In 1964, the ACE Logistics Coordination Centre (LCC) was formed to meet the requirements of Allied Command Europe. This centre had detailed emergency and wartime roles, which were rehearsed and tested during exercises. Allied Command Atlantic (ACLANT) also had a Logistics Coordination Board.

NATO-wide cooperation and coordination in consumer logistics increased as the need for increased preparedness, including logistics readiness and sustainability, became a growing priority. The Senior NATO Logisticians’ Conference (SNLC) was established in 1979 to develop and introduce logistics support concepts to meet the Alliance’s logistics challenges and requirements. The SNLC was renamed the Logistics Committee in June 2010 after a review of NATO committees that introduced more flexibility and efficiency into the working procedures of NATO Headquarters.