Steen Søndergaard takes up role as NATO Chief Scientist

On 1 July 2025 Steen Søndergaard began his three-year term as NATO Chief Scientist, having been appointed to the position by the North Atlantic Council earlier this year upon recommendation by the NATO Science & Technology Board (STB).

As Chief Scientist, Søndergaard serves as chairman of the STB and acts as the senior scientific advisor to NATO leadership. Furthermore, he leads the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) at NATO Headquarters. The OCS is part of the world’s largest defence research network, the NATO Science & Technology Organization (STO). By delivering a multinational programme of work, the STO is the alliance’s principal body for conducting co-operative defence research, aimed at advancing NATO’s military edge by deriving decisive advantage from technology.

“With more than 30 years of experience, Søndergaard brings extensive expertise to this strategic role. He will continue the legacy of delivering timely evidence-based advice to NATO senior leadership in order to inform the Alliance’s defence planning, policy- and decision-making,” NATO stated in a press release. “As the Chair of the STB, he will maintain governance focus on two main objectives: strengthening the impact of S&T results across all Instruments of Power, and ensuring that the STO-internal adaptation process delivers the expected results.”

Prior to this appointment, Søndergaard was director of the Danish Defence Research Center from 2016-2025 and chief scientific advisor for the director of the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) and the National Armaments Director. He has held a number of senior scientific advisory roles across key national institutions and acquisition programmes, including the New Fighter Replacement Programme at the Danish Ministry of Defence. Additionally, he dedicated over 20 years to the Danish Defence Research Establishment (DDRE), where he started as a researcher and ended up being head of the sensor department until the DDRE became a part of DALO.

Søndergaard holds a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications and Electrical Engineering from Aalborg University, Denmark (1988). In 1990 he undertook further study in Advanced Engineering Education and Electronic Countermeasures at Washington State University in the United States. Since then, he has continued his professional development at several institutions, most recently at the NATO Defence College, where he graduated from the Senior Course in 2020.

Søndergaard succeeds Dr Bryan Wells, who served as NATO Chief Scientist from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2025.