Australian Defence College

Division within the Australian Department of Defence

Australian Defence College

Agency overview
Jurisdiction| Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters| Canberra, Australia
35°19′11″S 149°3′29″E﻿ / ﻿35.31972°S 149.05806°E﻿ / -35.31972; 149.05806
Minister responsible|

* Minister for Defence

Parent agency| Department of Defence (Australia)
Website| Australian Defence College

The Australian Defence College (ADC) comprises three joint education and training organisations operated by the Australian Defence Force in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory:

* the War College,
* the Australian Defence Force Training Centre (ADFTC), and
* the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).

The ADC is commanded by a two-star officer. Each of the educational organisations is commanded by a one-star officer or Colonel (equivalent), titled Commandant of their organisation.[not verified in body]

The last known commander was Major General Mick Ryan, from January 2018 to February 2022.[1]

The Australian Defence Force Warfare Training Centre and Peace Operations Training Centre are sited at a campus at Weston, ACT.[not verified in body]

## History of Australian Defence College

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The current Australian Defence College has its origins in the report of the Defence Efficiency Review from May 1997. The report recommended sweeping changes to officer education in the Australian Defence Force.

The Australian Defence College (ADC) was officially opened on 18 January 1999 by the Hon Bruce Scott MP, Minister Assisting the Minister of Defence. The founding Commander of the ADC was Rear Admiral Raydon Gates CSM, RAN.

The first two courses that were run at the new ADC in 1999 were the Defence Staff Course (DSC) and the Defence and Strategic Studies Course (DSSC). In 2000 these two courses were merged to form one course, the Defence and Strategic Studies Course.

On 14 March 2001 the then Governor–General, Sir William Deane, officially opened the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC). Prior to this date, middle management officer Command and Staff training was conducted at separate single Service staff colleges:[2]

* the RAN Staff Course at HMAS Penguin in Sydney;
* the Army Command and Staff Course was conducted at Fort Queenscliff in Victoria; and
* the RAAF Staff Course at RAAF Fairbairn in the Australian Capital Territory.

On 1 October 2007 the Australian Defence Force Warfare Centre (ADFWC) came under command of the Commander ADC, as part of the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group.

In July 2017, the Australian Defence College transferred to the new Joint Capabilities Group.

In 2019, under the command of General Ryan, the Australian Defence College implemented a major organisational reform after nearly two decades. The changes included the amalgamation of the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies and the Australian Command and Staff College to form the Australian War College, to focus on Joint Professional Military Education. Individual training delivered by the Australian Defence Force Warfare Training Centre, Peace Operations Training Centre, Defence Force Chaplains College, Defence International Training Centre, and Defence Force School of Languages was centralised to the Australian Defence Force Training Centre.

### Commanders

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Commander, Australian Defence College

Commander | Term began | Term ended
Rear Admiral Raydon Gates CSM, RAN | January 1999 | August 2002
Major General Jim Molan AO | August 2002 | April 2004
Rear Admiral Mark Bonser AO, CSC, RAN | May 2004 | January 2006
Major General David Morrison AM | January 2006 | April 2007
Brigadier Brian Dawson AM, CSC (Acting) | April 2007 | August 2007
Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas AO, CSC, RAN | August 2007 | January 2008
Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas AO, CSC, RAN | January 2008 | May 2008
Rear Admiral James Goldrick AO, CSC, RAN | May 2008 | August 2011
Major General Craig Orme AM, CSC | August 2011 | July 2013
Major General Simone Wilkie AO | July 2013 | January 2018
Major General Mick Ryan AM | January 2018 | February 2022[1]
[needs update] | February 2022  |

## Australian War College

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Badge of the Australian War College

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On 15 February 2019, the Hon Darren Chester MP, Minister for Defence Personnel, officially opened the new Australian War College.

The War College delivers the Australian Defence Force's core Joint Professional Military Education continuum through the War College's two principal courses: The Australian Command and Staff Course and The Defence Strategic Studies Course.

Both courses use distinguished guest lecturers to give the course a practical context. Visiting Fellows include prominent academics from overseas.

### Commandants

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The following is a list of the Commandants, Australian War College.

Commander | Term began | Term ended

|
|

Air Commodore Matt Hegarty CSC | January 2019 | January 2020
Commodore Richard Boulton AM RAN | January 2020 | Present

### Defence and Strategic Studies Course (DSSC)

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"Joint Services Staff College" is also the former name of the British Joint Service Defence College

In 2019, the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (CDSS) – formerly known as the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies, and the Joint Services Staff College - was amalgamated with the Australian Command and Staff College to form the Australian War College, which is now responsible for the delivery of CDSS' main course, the Defence and Strategic Studies Course (DSSC). The DSSC is intended for senior Service and civilian officers of mainly Colonel (equiv) rank.

The intensive Defence and Strategic Studies Course (DSSC) primarily uses study modules from Australian universities. The DSSC is intended to give officers of the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Public Service and overseas participants the knowledge and skills required by senior leaders and managers operating in the national security environment. The interconnected thematic core curriculum blocks that are:

* Development of Strategic Thought;
* Command, Strategic Leadership and Management;
* The Contemporary Strategic Setting;
* Future Strategic Settings;
* Australian Strategic policy – Past, Present and Future; and
* Higher Command and Staff Studies.

Successful completion of the DSSC is considered necessary for promotion to Brigadier (equivalent) rank in the Australian Defence Force.

Past Principals Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (CDSS)

The following is a list of the Principals, Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies.

Principal | Term began | Term ended

|
|

Paul Varsanyi | 18 January 2000 | 5 January 2005
Myra Rowling | 6 January 2005 | 8 December 2005
Maurice Hermann | 5 January 2006 | 3 December 2006
Dr Alan Ryan | 4 December 2006 | January 2012[citation needed]
Ian Errington | January 2012 | February 2018[citation needed]
Colonel Charles Weller | February 2018 | December 2018

### Australian Command and Staff Course (ACSC)

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The Australian Command and Staff Course intellectually prepares future leaders to fulfil command and staff appointments in single-Service, joint, multi-national and interagency environment.

Other courses conducted are:

* RAN Staff Acquaint Course; and
* Army Reserve Command and Staff Course

Other courses are preparations for these:

* Overseas Course Member Orientation Period (OCMOP)
* ACSC Course Member Orientation Week
* Defence International Training Centre
* Australian Defence Force Peace Operations Training Centre Course
* Directing Staff Development Course (DSDP)

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The Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC) conducts courses intended to prepare field ranking officers (Major / Lieutenant Commander / Squadron Leader) and their Defence civilian equivalent for staff duties and subsequent promotion to command positions.

Past Commandants Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC)

The following is a list of the Commanders, Australian Command and Staff College.

Commander | Term began | Term ended

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|

Air Commodore Peter McDermott AM, CSC | March 2001 | December 2002
Commodore Campbell "Cam" Darby AM, RAN | December 2002 | January 2005
Brigadier Michael Clifford CSC | January 2005 | July 2005
Brigadier Wayne Bowen SC, AM | July 2005 | September 2006
Brigadier Chris Appleton CSC | February 2007 | December 2007
Captain Richard McMillan CSC, RAN (acting) | December 2007 | March 2008[citation needed]
Brigadier Barry McManus CSC | March 2008 | January 2009[citation needed]
Brigadier Wayne Goodman AM | January 2009 | May 2010[citation needed]
Commodore Richard Menhinick AM, CSC, RAN | May 2010 | 2012
Brigadier Peter Gates AM, CSM | 2012 | 2017
Air Commodore Matt Hegarty CSC | 2017 | 2018

### Roof collapse

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At about 4.15pm on 30 January 2006, part of the roof collapsed into the staff offices on the second floor used by the ACSC at the Geddes building. Several staff had minor injuries.[3] Classes were moved to the ADFA campus while restoration work was completed.

## Australian Defence Force Training Centre (ADFTC)

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Badge of the Australian Defence Force Training Centre

The Australian Defence Force Training Centre was stood up in 2019 following the Australian Defence College organisational changes and centralised joint individual training for Defence, Government Agencies and selected foreign students.

The ADFTC is as follows:

* Australian Defence Force Warfare Training Centre, providing individual joint training for Defence, Government Agencies and selected foreign students, as well as assisting with training of joint headquarters staff for operations and job-specific training in the concepts of joint warfare.
* The Peace Operations Training Centre is a joint, inter-agency and multi-national training establishment and a recognised United Nations (UN) training provider. It prepares Australian military, foreign military and civilians from other government departments to deploy on operations. The Peace Operations Training Centre also delivers the Australian Defence Force Gender Advisor Course, training students to apply a Gender perspective into policy, and planning at all levels.
* Defence Force Chaplains College provides Initial, Intermediate and Senior level instruction to Australian Defence Force Chaplains.
* Defence Force School of Languages, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, teaches and assesses Australian Defence Force and civilian members in Languages Other Than English (LOTE). The courses are unique within Australian academic institutions due to the intensity of delivery and the focus on military and strategic contexts.
* Defence International Training Centre is the entry point for international military members on arrival in Australia, providing language training, teacher training and cultural familiarisation courses. Defence International Training Centre is a major contributor to Defence regional engagement especially in the South-East Asian and South Pacific regions.

### Commandants

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The following is a list of the Commandants, Australian Defence Force Training Centre.

Commander | Term began | Term ended

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Captain Ray Leggatt AM, CSC, RAN | January 2019 | November 2019
Captain David Luck RAN | November 2019 | Present

## Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA)

[edit]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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Main article: Australian Defence Force Academy

The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) is the educational institution for trainee officers of the Australian Defence Force, offering three- and four-year primary degrees, and postgraduate degrees.

ADFA's academic services are provided by the University of New South Wales Canberra and academic and some support staff are employed by the university. Military staff conduct a separate Joint Military Education and Training program to prepare the trainee officers for their military careers.

The campus is in Campbell, ACT, and is located between Russell, Campbell Park and Duntroon.

Current Commandant: Air Commodore Jules Adams

Rector: Professor Emma Sparks

## References and notes

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1. ^ a b "Mick Ryan — Adjunct Fellow (Non-resident), Australia Chair". csis.org. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
2. ^ The History of the Australian Command and Staff College Archived 21 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Australia Defence College website. This page also contains: RAAF Staff College History; RAN Staff Course History; and History of the Army Staff College.
3. ^ Staff (31 January 2006). "No major injuries sustained in college roof collapse". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2020.

## External links

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* Australian Defence College
* Australian War College
* Australian Defence Force Training Centre
* Australian Defence Force Academy
* Defence International Training Centre
* History of the College

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States