Located in Northwood Headquarters, Middlesex, UK, The Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) is NATO’s one stop shop for all maritime matters in the North Atlantic Alliance. It is a truly multinational workplace manned by military and civilian personnel from 22 different NATO countries. Part of the NATO Command Structure, it is the place from which NATO maritime operations such as Operation Ocean Shield (NATO’s counter piracy operation) and Operation Active Endeavour are planned and commanded. Major NATO exercises also take place there, be it at the maritime or joint levels (i.e. including land and air unites). Commander Maritime Command (COM MARCOM) is NATO’s maritime expert, responsible for providing advice on maritime affairs to the strategic level, which is the ‘Allied Commander Operations’ in Mons, Belgium.
A BIT OF HISTORY
NATO’s presence in Northwood Headquarters dates back to 1953, only four years after the creation of the Alliance. That year, NATO decided that its Eastern Atlantic Command would be co-located with what used to be the Royal Air Force Coastal Command. Over the years a number of NATO maritime functions have relocated to Northwood: NATO Channel command in 1966 and Flag Officer Submarines in 1978. After the end of the Cold War, NATO Eastern Atlantic Command followed the restructuration of NATO’s Command Structure. In 2004, its role evolved to Allied Maritime Component Command (MCC Northwood) together with another MCC in Naples, Italy. During this period, Northwood and Naples have been sharing the responsibility for NATO maritime operations and exercises.
TRANSFORMATION IN THE MAKING
During the Lisbon Summit in November 2010, NATO heads of state collectively agreed that the NATO Command Structure, the sum of all the Alliance’s tactical, operational and strategic headquarters, needed to be rearranged to ensure it is fully adapted to today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. It was decided that NATO would have a single maritime command, HQ MARCOM, concentrating all maritime responsibilities, and that this new HQ will be located in Northwood. This political decision marked the beginning of a transition period during which Maritime Command Northwood has been undergoing this major transformation. The final milestone, on 1st December 2012, will mark the official activation of this new role.
PEOPLE
Around 300 people work in the NATO Maritime Command alongside 60 personnel from the NATO Communication agency, the NCIA. British officers and petty officers are working together with officers from 21 other Allied Nations and civilians employed by NATO. Given the historical geographic focus on the Atlantic, the NATO Nations contributing to the HQ’s staff have been predominantly North European. MARCOM being now the single maritime command, this headquarters now enjoys an increased representation from Southern European nations. This strong Allied presence in Northwood contributes to making this site a world class hub in international maritime operations and a truly stimulating working environment.