Recent Events

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE COLLEGE
CENTRE FOR DEFENCE AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009

Block Four – Security Policy Development and Decision Making

Block Four began with the Management Seminar, with Deputy Secretary Margot McCarthy delivering the keynote address and introducing a main theme, the Strategic Reform Program.  Course members soon got into the swing of the program and enjoyed the presentations by high profile speakers such as Mr David Murray (former CEO of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Chairman of the Futures Fund) and Mr John Gillam, Managing Director of Bunnings.   Professor Bob Nordlinger hit home with his (production, administration, entrepreneur, indulgence) model of the business lifecycle.  Mr Danny Jackson, had everyone engaged with his system dynamics game, which simulated a typical supply chain and showed how unintended consequences can result from perfectly intuitive decisions.

The course then departed the College for the Australian Study Tour, which included visits to over twenty businesses in Sydney and Melbourne and six central presentations from corporations and State Governments.  Once again this year the access to the highest levels of executives in these organisations was excellent.

Directly following the Australian Study Tour, Australian course members left for New Zealand and conducted industry, government, defence and cultural visits in Wellington and Auckland. The overseas course members, meanwhile, embarked on a national tour of Australia, with visits to defence units and facilities in Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin and Adelaide. The course was reunited for the Strategic Human Resource program the following week.

The Spring Study Break allowed course members to finalise their third Assignment.  They then completed a short finance module which preceded seven days of presentations on the Capability Development process including several case studies from the Defence Materiel Organisation. The Block concluded with a capability development exercise that required course members to adjust the Defence Capability Plan to fund a new government requirement.  This activity benefited from the excellent engagement and commitment of the course members, the senior mentors (Lieutenant General (Retired) Peter Leahy, Air Marshal (Retired) Riding, Dr Ralph Neumann and Brigadier (Retired) Jeffrey Wilkinson) and the active involvement of the Chief Capability Development Group, Vice Admiral Matt Tripovich, and his key staff.

Visit to CDSS by China’s Army Chief of General Staff, General Chen Bingde

On Friday 16 October, course members and staff of the CDSS enjoyed a Keynote Address by General Chen Bingde, the Chinese Peoples’ Liberation Army Chief of General Staff and member of the Central Military Commission. General Chen and his senior military delegation were in Canberra for high level dialogue with the Minister for Defence and with the Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, and Defence Secretary Ian Watt.

The Commander of the Australian Defence College, Rear Admiral James Goldrick, and the Principal of the CDSS, Dr Alan Ryan, were delighted for the opportunity to host General Chen at the Australian Defence College during his visit to Canberra. In his Address to the CDSS, General Chen engaged in open and frank discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing China and the Chinese military, in the contemporary international security and economic environment. He under-scored the positive and productive nature of relations between China and Australia and extended an open invitation for course members to visit his country to engage further on security and defence matters.

Senior Visits Program

In addition to the welcome visit to CDSS by General Chen, the CDSS continued its active Senior Visits Program over the September/October period.  This included visits to the College by Professor Seok-Soo Lee and Assistant Professor Dr Kyeng-Ho Son from the Korean National Defence University (23 September), General Pol Saroen, Chief of Staff of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (2 October), as well as visits by several senior delegations of staff and course members from international defence and security institutions.  These included: the National Resilience Institute (LEMHANNAS) headed by Major General Suryo Haryanto of the Republic of Indonesia (14 October); the Kenyan National Defense College, headed by Lieutenant General Jones M Mutwii (15 October); the National Defence College of Bangladesh led by Brigadier General Ilyas Iftekhar (16 October); the Indonesian National Forces Joint Staff and Command College led by Brigadier General Bakti Tarsil Tarigan (21 October) and the National Defence University of China led by Lieutenant General Zhao Gang (26-27 October).

JULY/AUGUST 2009

Block Three – Higher Command and the Conduct of Joint Operations

During the period July-August 2009, course members undertook Block Three, ‘Higher Command and the Conduct of Joint Operations’. The purpose of Block Three was to prepare course members for employment in the higher command environment and to expose them to the application of campaign planning processes at the strategic and operational levels.  The outcome sought from Block Three was to enhance the ability of course members to apply military power to achieve strategic objectives.

Building on the national security frameworks discussed in Block One, the first week of Block Three addressed the frameworks, process, products and players at the military strategic level.  Week two explored key concerns for higher commanders in regard to leadership attributes, the commander’s role in operational art and operational design, and the impact of ethical, legal and media issues at the higher command level. Weeks three to five focussed on Australian Defence Force, inter-agency, ally and United Nations strategic and operational level planning processes for complex military operations and campaigns.  The core weeks concluded with a war-game seminar conducted during Weeks 6 and 7. For the first time in 2009, a series of two week electives were then offered covering the topics: Strategic Leadership, Civil-Military Engagement, Counter-Insurgency Operations and Advanced Campaign Planning.

Highlights of Block Three included the visit to CDSS by the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support and Parliamentary Secretary for Water, The Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM MP who provided a keynote address on the topic ‘Shaping the Operational Space for Success’ in civil-military operations and General James Conway, Commandant, United States Marine Corps who provided candid insights into the issues and opportunities that he faces within his command. During the elective program, course members were fortunate to have the opportunity to be addressed by a range of eminent practitioners and academics such as Mr Tim Costello (CEO for World Vision Australia), Ambassador John Herbst (Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilisation in the US Department of State), Mr Richard Teuten (Head of the UK Reconstruction and Stabilisation Unit), Mr Angus Campbell (Deputy National Security Advisor), Mr Gerard Gallucci (Chief of Staff in the UN Mission in East Timor), Professor Amin Saikal (Director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies), and Major General (Retired) Radjit Nadkarni (former Indian Army). 

Throughout the core of Block Three and during the electives, course members also benefited considerably from the insights of several senior Australian Defence Force personnel with extensive practical experience in higher command including the Vice Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General David Hurley, AO, DSC, and several current and retired Service Chiefs.

APRIL/JUNE 2009

Reception with the Governor General

The CDSS was delighted for the opportunity to host a reception in honour of Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor General of Australia, and His Excellency Mr Michael Bryce AM AE on Tuesday 30 June.  The Commander Joint Education, Training and Warfare, Rear Admiral James Goldrick AM, CSC, RAN officially welcomed the Governor General who delivered a short address.  In her address, the Governor General reflected on her high regard for the armed services and her appreciation of the opportunity to engage with the course’s diverse national and international membership.  After her address, the Governor General mingled with course members over light refreshments.  The visit to CDSS by the Governor General has become an annual feature of the course calendar and is one of the highlights of the year.

APRIL/JUNE 2009

Block Two - Contemporary Strategic Setting

During the period April-June 2009, course members were deeply engaged in Block Two, ‘Contemporary and Future Strategic Setting’. This Block provided course members with an understanding of the forces that shape Australia’s security environment, particularly those within the Asia-Pacific region.  During the core period, all course members studied the internal and external structures and dynamics influencing state and non-state actors and the major players in the Asia-Pacific region. The Block then offered a series of one and two week electives from which course members could select topics that supported their particular research interests.

The elective period was a particular favourite among course members.  It provided the opportunity to study, in some depth, discrete sub-regional and thematic topics. This year, the topics offered were: Southeast Asia, Middle East, South Asia, South West Pacific, Applied Futures Analysis, Terrorism and Transnational Security. 

There were many highlights during the core period of the Block.  These included an address by Mr Duncan Lewis, the National Security Advisor who spoke candidly about the responsibilities of his position and the issues surrounding the establishment of a National Security Advisor within the Australian governmental and departmental framework.  Mr Dan Clune, the United States Charge d’Affairs offered insightful perspectives on the role of the United States within the Asia-Pacific region.  During the week focussing on China, the college was joined by Dr Elizabeth Van Wie Davis, a professor in the College of Security Studies and an internationally renowned commentator focussing on Chinese domestic, foreign and defence policies.

Small Group Tours

The Small Group Tours provide course members with the opportunity to visit specific countries in the near region to consolidate their learning in Block Two and to pursue their individual study focus. During the overseas visits, course members analysed the elements of national power of the countries visited, practiced international defence engagement, and enhanced their strategic relationships with international counterparts. The destinations visited were Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.  The visits were uniformly enjoyed by course members and added considerably to their understanding of the international environment in which they will operate as tomorrow’s strategic leaders.

Overseas Study Tour - April 2009

The Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (CDSS) conducted a very successful Overseas Study Tour (OST) to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea and to Japan during the period 4-17 April 2009.

The tour involved a series of visits to military units and military education institutions, some key military, historical and cultural sites, and a number of briefings on recent political and economic developments from both local and Australian officials based in the countries visited. Highlights of the tour included visits and interaction with the course members of the National Defence University in Beijing, the Korean National Defence University in Seoul and the National Institute for Defence Studies in Tokyo.

This tour is a major CDSS activity and it exposed the next generation of Defence strategic leaders to regional strategic issues and practised them in the skills of international engagement. The OST is an established part of the Defence and Strategic Studies Course (DSSC) and effectively supports the core component of Block 2, 'The Contemporary Strategic Setting'

CDSS/ANU New Publication

COL Mark Shephard, CDSS Course Member from 2008, has had his major CDSS paper published by the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University. It is on the topic of Australia's Nation-Building in the Pacific (WP413) and is available here.

CDSS RECENT EVENTS - JANUARY/MARCH 2008

Block One – Frameworks for Strategic Leadership

Block One, ‘Frameworks for Strategic Leadership’, was successfully conducted over the period 27 January to 6 March.  Block One examined the fundamental elements for understanding strategic leadership and command at the higher level.

Lieutenant General Hickling (Retd), former Chief of Army, opened the Block with a number of astute insights into the ‘urban myths’ and realities concerning strategic leadership in the contemporary security environment.  He underscored the need for course members, as future leaders, to prepare themselves to provide clear guidance in circumstances of strategic ambiguity, and to take individual responsibility for their actions and decisions.

In Weeks One and Two, course members examined critical thinking techniques.  Professor David Kang from Dartmouth College explored whether there is a need to develop new analytical frameworks through which Western commentators should consider Asian security dynamics.  This led course members to consider, among other issues, whether a ‘balance of power’ or alternative theoretical approach is the best model for explaining Asian international relations.  Later in the same week, Associate Professor Wright Neville examined terrorism as a security concept, juxtaposing its historical context with the international focus on terrorism in a post-911 context.

The CDSS was very fortunate to have the opportunity in Week Three to hear reflections of senior leaders on the challenges of higher command.  Speakers included: Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston; Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Lieutenant General Hurley; Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Evans; and the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Crane.  Later in the same week, course members were introduced to the senior mentors who will join the course periodically to help guide them through the concepts and issues that will be introduced throughout the year.  These senior mentors include: Vice Admiral (Retd.) David Shackleton, former Chief of Navy; Lieutenant General Hickling, former Chief of Army; Mr Paul Barratt, former Secretary of Defence; and Mr Cavan Hogue, Mr Robert Laurie, and Mr Geoff Millar, all of whom are former Australian Ambassadors.

Jindabyne Leadership Activity

Course members agreed that the highlight of Week Four was the Group Leadership Activity to Jindabyne and Mount Kosciusko conducted from 19-20 February.  The purpose of the activity was to provide course members with the opportunity to participate in group activities designed to enhance leadership and to gain a greater understanding of the cultural diversity within the group.  The event took place over two perfect days and saw course members successfully reach the tip of Mount Kosciuszko, the highest point in Australia.   The event was enjoyed by course members and staff alike, and significantly enhanced the strong group dynamic.

Week Five commenced with the conduct of the Cranlana Program by Professor of Law, Martin Krygier, from the University of New South Wales. Through a moderated session of reading, study and directed discussion, the purpose of the program was to enhance course members’ understanding of the philosophical, ethical and social issues that affect strategic decision making.

For the remainder of Weeks Five and Six, course members were led through a series of stimulating discussions that examined several major theories of international relations and that consolidated their understanding of strategic security concepts.  These included presentations on the relevance of international relations theory to the practitioner, the meaning of security, and the role of regional security architecture.  The course also examined implications arising from the end of the Cold War, particularly as it relates to the contemporary role of the United States and the United Nations.

International Night

One of the high spots of the CDSS calendar year is the International Night, and the event held on 14 March was no exception.  Led by the overseas course members, the International Night provides an opportunity for the entire course membership, and their families, to share in the cultural and culinary diversity of their countries of origin.  Highlights of the evening included dancing, singing and recitals by course members in traditional national dress.  The care and time taken in the preparation of a myriad of national dishes was outstanding.  A great night was had by all who attended.

Visits Program

In addition to the participation by a number of senior officers in the Block One curriculum, CDSS was delighted to host visits by several overseas sister institutions and distinguished guests.  During the period January to March, the following visitors were received:

• Hon. Bob Dadae, MP, Papua New Guinea Minister for Defence (3 February)
• MAJGEN Sakda Sangsnit, Deputy Superintendent, National Defence College-Thailand and course members (9 February)
• US Army School of Advanced Military Studies (26 February)
• HE Dr Noureddine Hached, Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia (26 February)
• Dr Eugene C. Gritton, Vice President and Director of RAND’s National Security Division (4 March)
• Monsieur Yves Dassonville, High Commissioner of New Caledonia (18 March)