Oeiras, Portugal - The Partnership for Peace Consortium’s (PfPC) third Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) workshop of 2024 concluded on September 13 at the NATO Communication and Information Academy in Oeiras, Portugal. This final workshop of the fiscal year marked the first combined gathering of the NATO Training and Technology Conference (NTTC) and the ADL Working Group (ADL WG) workshop, featuring participants from 15 NATO and partner nations. Co-chaired by Dr. Aaron Presnall and LTC Michael Nickolaus, the event focused on advancing NATO’s digital learning strategies, with specific emphasis on cognitive warfare and content sharing.

Workshop Achievements Amid Planning Challenges

Over the course of four days, the workshop facilitated collaboration among subject matter experts on two draft information papers that address cognitive warfare and digital content sharing among allies. Key contributors, including Dr. Wendy Walsh, Chief Learning Officer of the U.S. Air Force, and Al Musgrove from the U.S. Joint Staff J7, played a prominent role in discussions aimed at increasing resilience and fostering collaboration. However, challenges in logistical support, such as limited transportation and audiovisual resources, impacted the workshop. Organizers noted the importance of cohesive integration and support coordination to ensure future events meet the needs of all attendees.

Path Forward Includes Expanded Collaboration and Mentorship Initiatives

Looking ahead, the next ADL WG workshop is set for February 2025 in Tbilisi, Georgia, as the Consortium plans to focus on mentoring emerging ADL professionals and fostering international partnerships. Strategic partnerships, such as an agreement to share the U.K. Defense Academy’s eLearning repository with Ukraine, underscore the Consortium’s commitment to supporting resilience and training initiatives. With Georgia’s anticipated NATO accreditation for its ADL center, upcoming workshops aim to advance NATO’s learning capabilities and facilitate greater cross-national training interoperability.

To learn more about the ADL Working Group, click here.