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Jan 19 2024

Meet Jerry Kisakasaka, Executive Assistant to the NCI Agency's Chief of Staff


Jerry Kisakasaka is part of the team that provides executive-level administrative support to the NCI Agency's top leadership duo, General Manager Ludwig Decamps and Chief of Staff Major General Hans Folmer.

The Executive Management team coordinates activities Agency-wide to ensure that the objectives of the General Manager and Chief of Staff are carried out without fail.

An integral part of the Executive Office, Kisakasaka is the first point of contact for the Chief of Staff. Kisakasaka manages the Chief of Staff's daily commitments, ensures collaboration across various functional teams on topics of importance to leadership and provides guidance to the wider Executive Management team when needed.

"I would have never imagined having a career at NATO, working alongside so many military and civilian personnel from such diverse backgrounds," said Kisakasaka whilst reflecting on nearly a decade at the Agency.

A French national, Kisakasaka served in the French Navy for four years before joining the NCI Agency as a Financial Analyst in 2015.

Meet Jerry Kisakasaka, Executive Assistant to the NCI AgencytmpAmps Chief of Staff

What drew you to a career in NATO?

While I was in the French Navy, I was assigned to a three-year duty at Supreme Headquarters Allied Power Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium. At the time, I was working with one of the NCI Agency's predecessors, the NATO Communications and Information Systems Services Agency (NCSA), as an Administrative Assistant to the Financial Controller. That was my first NATO assignment, and it introduced me to an environment that was completely different from what I was used to. In 2015, an opportunity arose in the Agency with the Finance Planning and Analysis Team and, fortunately, I got the role. I had a strong finance background and a great deal of knowledge and experience on NATO financial policies, processes and tools so this was a great stepping stone in my transition journey from the French Navy to NATO Civilian.

Why is the Executive Office so important?

The Executive Office is part of a larger Executive Management team that provides support to leadership and ensures seamlesss daily operations are carried out in alignment with Executive intent. This includes proactive planning, management and prioritization of critical Agency-wide investments, and coordination of internal and external engagements with stakeholders, senior committees and boards. We help empower people throughout the Agency to carry out the goals of the General Manager and Chief of Staff. Through Agency-wide collaboration, we ensure that the work that needs doing is done.

How do you navigate complex and unexpected events that arise in your work?

I remind myself that uncertainty and unexpected events are a natural part of life. I try to ensure that I am always in a position to handle such events by prioritizing so that I can properly manage my time. For example, I sort complex or unexpected events according to their urgency and importance. This way I can see clearly what needs my immediate attention and what can wait.

It is also beneficial for me to delegate tasks and empower people to take responsibility. I trust the people I work with to do the job well without imposing too much control. This is important because when I work on my daily functions, I do not do it in isolation, but as part of a team. NATO is about being stronger together, and that is something I have witnessed within my team and throughout the Agency.

Do you have any advice for your younger self or a younger person looking into working at NATO?

To my younger self, I say: just go for it! You have the opportunity to work alongside some great colleagues and there is a higher goal to working for NATO, which is protecting one billion citizens in an unpredictable world such as ours. Young people might look at NATO and think "I stand no chance and there must be so much competition". Yes, there are a lot of people who want to contribute to NATO's objectives but at the end of the day, you just have to go for it. You will be surprised by how your skills can be mobilized within such an organization!