The Australian Defence College is governed by the Australian Defence College Advisory Board. The Board provides advice to the Commander Australian Defence College (COMADC) on major issues relating to the ADC. The Chair and six of the ordinary members of the Board are appointed by the Chief of the Defence Force and the Secretary.

The Board comprises a Chair, eight ordinary and five invited members. The ordinary members include the Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) and Deputy Secretary (DEPSEC'S), two members with business expertise, two academics and two members who are eminent members of the community with skills relevant to the work of the Board. The invited members are COMADC, the Principal of the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (PCDSS), the Commandant of the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC), the Commandant of ADFA and the Deputy Secretary People, Strategies and Policy (DEPSEC PSP).

The Board meets no less than four times a year. Two of the meetings are full meetings of the Board, while the remaining two are an ADFA Working Group of the Board, to consider matters relating directly to ADFA. For the two full meetings of the Board, summary reports on achievements and developments in the preceding period and issues passed to it by the broader Defence organisation are considered. With affecting the College on an as required basis.

Board membership:

• Chairman, Vice Admiral C A Ritchie (Retired)
• Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin
• Deputy Secretary Strategy, Mr Brendan Sargeant
• University of New South Wales Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard Henry
• Director National Security College, ANU Academic Member, Professor Michael L'Estrange
• Former Director - Maritime, BAE Systems Australia Industry Member, Mr Merv Davis
• Director, Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis (CAMA), Research School of Economics, ANU College of Business and Economics Industy Member, Professor Renee McKibbin
• SVI Global Pty Ltd Community Member, Ms Laura Anderson Chairman

Invited Members

• Commander Australian Defence College, Major General Craig Orme
• Commandant Australian Command and Staff College, Brigadier Peter Gates
• Principal Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, Mr Ian Errington
• Commandant Australian Defence Force Academy, Commodore Bruce Kafer, RAN
• Deputy Secretary People Strategies and Policy, Ms Carmel McGregor