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Chapter 10: Civilian Organisation and Structures The International Staff NATO's Civil and Military Structure The work of the North Atlantic Council and its subordinate committees is supported by an International Staff consisting of personnel from member countries, either recruited directly by the Organisation or seconded by their governments. The members of the International Staff are responsible to the Secretary General and owe their allegiance to the Organisation throughout the period of their appointment. The International Staff comprises the Office of the Secretary General, five operational Divisions, the Office of Management and the Office of the Financial Controller. Each of the Divisions is headed by an Assistant Secretary General, who is normally the chairman of the main committee dealing with subjects in his field of responsibility. Through their structure of Directorates, Sections and Services, the Divisions support the work of the committees in the various fields of activity described in other sections. The International Staff supports the process of consensus-building and decision-making between member and Partner countries and is responsible for the preparation and follow-up of the meetings and decisions of NATO committees, as well as those of the institutions created to manage the different forms of bilateral and multilateral partnership with non-member countries established since the end of the Cold War. In addition, there are a number of civil agencies and organisations located in different member countries, with responsibilities in fields such as communications and information systems and logistic support (see Chapter 14).