NATO Standardization Office
Logo | |
| Abbreviation | NSO |
|---|---|
| Predecessor |
|
| Formation | 1950 (MSA) |
| Type | Military alliance |
| Purpose | Military standardization |
| Headquarters | Brussels, Belgium |
| Coordinates | 50°52′34.16″N 4°25′19.24″E / 50.8761556°N 4.4220111°E |
Official language | English, French |
Director (DNSO) | Thierry Poulette |
Parent organization | NATO |
| Website | nso.nato.int/nso/ |
50°52′34.16″N 4°25′19.24″E / 50.8761556°N 4.4220111°E
The NATO Standardization Office (NSO) (former NATO Standardization Agency, NSA; French: Bureau OTAN de normalisation) is a NATO entity created in 1950 to support Allies in standardization activities. The NSA was formed through the merger of the Military Agency for Standardization and the Office for NATO Standardization. During the Agency Reforms, the NSA was transformed to the NATO Standardization Office (NSO) on 1 July 2014, headed by the Director of the NATO Standardization Office (DNSO).
The role of the NSO is to initiate, coordinate, support and administer standardization activities conducted under the authority of the Committee for Standardization. The NSO also assists NATO's Military Committee in developing military operational standards. These activities foster NATO standardization with the goal of enhancing the interoperability and operational effectiveness of Alliance military forces.
NSO headquarters is located at the main NATO headquarters at Boulevard Léopold III, B-1110 Brussels.