The Perspective of VADM Mark Hammond on the Way Ahead for the Australian Navy

10/28/2022
At the recent Williams Foundation on the challenge of building out a more lethal and survivable ADR, the newly appointed Chief of Navy, VADM Mark Hammond provided his perspective on the way ahead of the RAN and the nation in meeting these challenges. His text delivered at the seminar follows:…

Shaping a Way Ahead for Australian Defence: It is Not Just About ADF Modernization

10/21/2022
By Robbin Laird After the Williams Foundation Seminar held on September 28, 2022, I had a chance to discuss some of the takeaways with regard to the way ahead for Australian defence with my colleague Air Vice-Marshal (Retired) John Blackburn. We started by focusing on how in reshaping the ADF…

Following up with Dr. Alan Dupont: Shaping a Way Ahead for Australian Defence

10/20/2022
By Robbin Laird Dr. Dupont provided the launch presentation for the recent Williams Foundation Seminar held on September 28, 2022. That seminar focused on key questions and challenges facing the ADF as it addressed the shift to focus primarily on the direct defense of Australia. In his presentation, Dupont provided…

The Australian Army in Transition: The Perspective of Lt. General Simon Stuart

10/19/2022
By Robbin Laird In his presentation at the recent Indian Ocean Defence & Security Conference, the recently appointed Chief of Army, Lt. General Simon Stuart highlighted how he saw the way ahead for the Australian Army. “War is a national endeavour, and as a so-called middle power, we fight alongside…

The Evolving Strategic Environment and Its Impact on the ADF

10/07/2022
By Robbin Laird The launch point for the Williams Foundation Seminar held on September 28, 2022 was the presentation of Dr. Alan Dupont. Dupont provided a comprehensive examination of how fluid and dynamic that environment was for Australia and the liberal democracies. He underscored that several crises were happening at…

Australia’s Strategic Geography and the Defence of Australia: A Conversation with Dr. Andrew Carr

09/26/2022
By Robbin Laird One of Brendan Sargeant’s legacy to me was introducing him to a young professor, Dr. Andrew Carr who works on defence issues and is well along in writing a book on the history of Australian defence. Given the enhanced focus on the direct defence of Australia being…

Prioritizing the Direct Defense of Australia: Shaping a Way Ahead for the ADF?

09/15/2022
By Robbin Laird In my discussion with Marcus Hellyer, he highlighted the importance for Australia to prioritize the direct defense of Australia for the future evolution of the ADF. This is how he put it: “What is the Australian Defence Force (ADF) purpose-built for?” And here he posed what is…

Facing the Challenge of Shaping a Way Ahead for Australian Defense: A Conversation with Marcus Hellyer

09/13/2022
By Robbin Laird I have recently arrived back in Australia after my last visit in March 2020. The pandemic gap years are now over and I have come to Australia as the new Labour government has launched a comprehensive defence review. Shortly after my arrival in Canberra, I had a…