Air Power and Leadership Conference 2026
Managing Air Power in NATO’s Northern Flank
| Date | Time | Location | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
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3. Feb
- 4. Feb 2026
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08:30
- 15:00
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NATO’s northern flank is characterised by a more complex threat landscape and rapid technological development. A new CAOC in the north marks a significant strengthening of NATO’s ability to manage and coordinate air operations. At the same time, this raises questions about how air power can best be organised, led, and applied in view of changing conditions: What does the new CAOC mean for the management and development of air power within NATO?
The Air Power and Leadership Conference 2026 will offer perspectives from the podium, through panel discussions, and invite to group discussions. We have invited some of the leading experts on air power and leadership in Norway, the Nordic region, and among our allies to share their insights, inform, and challenge.
The Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy invites you and your unit to join us in exploring key perspectives related to the establishment of CAOC Bodø, from strategic to tactical level.
The conference will take place physically at the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy in Trondheim and will also be streamed. For those attending in person, there will, as tradition dictates, be a conference dinner on Tuesday evening.
Practical information
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The Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy does not have capacity for guests to stay at Kuhaugen camp, but hotel rooms have been reserved in the city centre, which participants must book themselves.
Rooms not reserved by 9 January 2026 will be released for general sale. Please book early to secure accommodation.
Link for room booking: Radisson Blu Royal Garden Hotel, Trondheim
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Shared transport will be arranged from the Radisson Blu Hotel Royal Garden, so it is recommended that participants book accommodation there. The transport plan will be published no later than one week before the conference starts.
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Informal gathering on Monday: smart casual
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Conference: service dress
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Mess dinner Tuesday: mess dress 2/dark suit
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Deadlines
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Hotel: Friday 9 January
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Conference: Wednesday 21 January
Conference fee
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With mess dinner: NOK 2,200
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Without mess dinner: NOK 1,100
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There will be a bar opening and get-together the evening before the conference at the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy.
All registered participants are welcome!
Programme
DAY I – Tuesday 3 February
9.00 The Norwegian Air Force Band
9.05 Welcome by the Chief of Air Force
Major General Øivind Gunnerud
9.20 Presentation of the conference and the programme
Associate professor Cornelia Vikan, Dr Steinar Skaar, NDUC Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy
Part 1. Managing air operations, a strategic outlook
9.45–10.05 Managing Air Operations and the challenges on NATO’s Northern Flank
AIRCOMs perspectives on Air C2 in the North in view of NATOs new CAOC. Brigadier General Erhan Celiktas, DCOS Plans HQ AIRCOM
10.05–10.20 Break
10.20–10.50 Operation Highmast
A Data-Centric Journey: Solving Multinational Information Sharing Challenges in Complex Operations". Phil Davies, SiXworks
10.55–11.20 Panel dicussion, Q&A
Brigadier General Celiktas and Phil Davies. Moderator: Dr Steinar Skaar
11.20–12.20 LUNCH
Part 2. Managing Air Operations, the Nordic Perspectives
12.20–12.50 Managing air operations in the north. Perspectives from the Nordic Air Chiefs or their representatives
Sweden Major General Jonas Wikman
Finland Brigadier General Aki Puustinen
Denmark Colonel Morten Kranker, Chief Combat Ops Division, Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem
Norway Major General Øivind Gunnerud
13.00–13.45 Panel discussion including Q&A
Moderator: Dr Saira Basit, Dean, Norwegian Defence University College (NDUC)
13.45–14.00 Break
14.00–14.10 Introduction to group discussions
Lieutenant Colonel Marianne Mjelde, NDUC Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy
14.10–15.25 Gruppediskusjoner
15.30–16.00 Oppsummering gruppediskusjoner i plenum
Lieutenant Colonel Marianne Mjelde
16.05–16.25 Epilogue day one
Associate professor Cecilie Hellestveit
18.30 The bar opens
19.00 Conference dinner
Formal attire/mess dress
DAY II – Wednesday 4 February
8.00 The Norwegian Air Force Band
8.05 Introduction day two
Associate professor Cornelia Vikan, Dr Steinar Skaar, NDUC Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy
8.15–8.25 Chief of the Air Force's Reading List
Associate professor Lars Peder Haga. NDUC Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy
Part 3. Managing Air Operations, concepts and technology
8.30–8.50 Managing Air Operations; from «Air Campaigns» to «multi domain»
Managing air operations in an MDO/JADO perspective. Major General Tron Strand, Commander CAOC Bodø
8.55–9.15 Managing Air Operations; emerging technologies for Air C2
How technologies will change established concepts for managing Air Operations? Lieutenant Colonel Kay Bjørnar Øyås, CAOC Bodø
9.15–9.30 Break
9.30–9.50 Multi domain operations, perspectives from the Norwegian Army
The “New Army” and potential implications for managing the “new” battlefield (drones, long range precision, the dynamic battlefield) . Brigadier Trond Haande, Commander Norwegian Army Land Warfare Center
9.55–10.15 Applied Technology in Military Operations (ATMO)
On the Technology Project at the Norwegian Defence University College. Lieutenant Colonel Dag Henriksen and Professor Karl Erik Olsen, NDUC Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy
10.15–10.30 Break
10.30–11.15 Panel disussion and Q&A
Major General Tron Strand
Brigadier Trond Haande
Lieutenant Colonel Kay Bjørnar Øyås
Lieutenant Colonel Dag Henriksen
Professor Karl Erik Olsen
Moderator: Dr Steinar Skaar
11.30–12.30 Parallell sessions and lunch (grab and go)
– A Finnish perspective on managing Air Operations in the North. TBD
– A Swedish perspective on managing Air Operations in the North. Colonel Carl Bergqvist, Swedish Air Warfare Centre
– Managing Air Operations in a Drone Dense Environment. Dmytro Pulmanovsky, Ukraine (online)
– How to defend against drones. Tonia Zakorchemna, Ukraine
Part 4. Managing Air Operations, the human factors
12.40–13.00 The human domain and MDO
Why the human domain is vital for operationalizing JADO/MDO. Dr Jeffrey Reilley, Director of the US Air Force Joint All Domaine Strategist Programme
13.05–13.25 Managing air operations in a complex reality; the human factors
Air Commodore Christopher David Snaith, DC CAOC Bodø
13.25–13.40 Break
13.40–14.00 Managing air operations; the human factors
Perspectives from the Norwegian F-35 mission to Poland. Lieutenant Colonel Morten Hanche, Norwegian Air Force
14.05–14.50 Panel discussion
Managing Air Operations on NATOs Northern Flank; challenges and opportunities; the human factors. Q&A
Dr Jeffrey Reilly
Air Commodore Christopher David Snaith
Lieutenant Colonel Morten Hanche
Moderator: Associate Professor Cornelia Vikan
14.50–15.00 Break
15.00–15.15 Epiogue
Professor Henrik Syse
15.15–15.25 Concluding remarks by the Chief of the Norwegian Air Force
Lessons learned and the way forward. Major General Øivind Gunnerud
15.25–15.30 The Norwegian Air Force Band