Australian Defence College
The Australian Defence College 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, and
- the Australian Defence Force Academy.
The last known commander was Major General Mick Ryan, from January 2018 to February 2022.
The Australian Defence Force Warfare Training Centre and Peace Operations Training Centre are sited at a campus at Weston, ACT.
History of Australian Defence College
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 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 and the Defence and Strategic Studies Course. 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. Prior to this date, middle management officer Command and Staff training was conducted at separate single Service staff colleges:
- 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.
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
Australian War College
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
The following is a list of the Commandants, Australian War College.| Commander | Term began | Term ended |
| Air Commodore Matt Hegarty | January 2019 | January 2020 |
| Commodore Richard Boulton | January 2020 | Present |
Defence and Strategic Studies Course (DSSC)
In 2019, the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies – 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. The DSSC is intended for senior Service and civilian officers of mainly Colonel rank.The intensive Defence and Strategic Studies Course 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.
Past Principals Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies
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 |
| Ian Errington | January 2012 | February 2018 |
| Colonel Charles Weller | February 2018 | December 2018 |
Australian Command and Staff Course (ACSC)
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
- Overseas Course Member Orientation Period
- ACSC Course Member Orientation Week
- Defence International Training Centre
- Australian Defence Force Peace Operations Training Centre Course
- Directing Staff Development Course
Past Commandants Australian Command and Staff College
The following is a list of the Commanders, Australian Command and Staff College.
| Commander | Term began | Term ended |
| Air Commodore Peter McDermott | March 2001 | December 2002 |
| Commodore Campbell "Cam" Darby | December 2002 | January 2005 |
| Brigadier Michael Clifford | January 2005 | July 2005 |
| Brigadier Wayne Bowen | July 2005 | September 2006 |
| Brigadier Chris Appleton | February 2007 | December 2007 |
| Captain Richard McMillan | December 2007 | March 2008 |
| Brigadier Barry McManus | March 2008 | January 2009 |
| Brigadier Wayne Goodman | January 2009 | May 2010 |
| Commodore Richard Menhinick | May 2010 | 2012 |
| Brigadier Peter Gates | 2012 | 2017 |
| Air Commodore Matt Hegarty | 2017 | 2018 |
Roof collapse
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. Classes were moved to the ADFA campus while restoration work was completed.Australian Defence Force Training Centre (ADFTC)
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 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. 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
| Commander | Term began | Term ended |
| Captain Ray Leggatt | January 2019 | November 2019 |
| Captain David Luck | November 2019 | Present |