Joint Air and Space Power Conference 2025
Panel 4
‘The Next Ten Years’ Thought Experiment
In this open-ended panel, we ask leading experts to discuss their highest priority tasks for NATO if the Alliance had between one and ten years to prepare for a major war. Panellists will offer their perspectives on the key challenges and opportunities facing the Alliance in a near-term conflict scenario. They will further outline concrete, near-term steps which will provide the greatest benefit or mitigate the greatest risks to NATO in the short term. Discussions may cover acquisitions strategies, operational improvements, changes to the command structure, modernization initiatives, public and private sector cooperation, or enhanced training and readiness. This session will include compelling arguments emphasizing the urgency of proactive change within the Alliance.
Related Read Ahead Essays
Speakers
Brigadier General
Enrique Fernández Ambel
Spanish Air and Space Force
Chief Operations Division
Brigadier General Enrique Fernández Ambel currently serves as Chief of the Operations Division of the Spanish Air and Space Force Air Staff, a position he assumed in June 2024 upon promotion to his current rank.
Major General
Remus Hadrian Bondor
Romanian Army
Romanian Military Representative to NATO and the European Union
Maj Gen Bondor represents Romania’s strategic defence interests within NATO and EU military structures. He provides senior military advice, participates in multinational planning and policy discussions, and ensures alignment between national defence priorities and collective security commitments.
Mr
Michael Callender
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Head Aerospace Capabilities
Mr. Michael Callender is Head of Section, Aerospace Capabilities responsible for policy guidance, capability delivery, and cooperation in the air and space domains with a total systems approach in support of NATO core tasks, missions, and operations.
Major General
Arnoud Stallmann
Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force
Assistant Chief of Staff Capabilities, Allied Command Transformation
Maj Gen Stallmann currently serves as Assistant Chief of Staff Capabilities at NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT), where he leads the development, integration, and delivery of capabilities to meet the Alliance’s future operational requirements.
Major General
Ireneusz Starzyński
Polish Air Force
Commander, Polish Air Operations Centre - Air Component Command
Major General Ireneusz Starzyński is the Commander of the Polish Air Operations Centre – Air Component Command, a position he has held since 2019. He is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing Poland’s air operations and ensuring readiness and interoperability with NATO missions.
