Full Name
Professor Peter J. Dean PhD SFHEA
Position
General Sir Francis Hassett Chair of Military Studies, Australian War College; and Professor of Strategic Studies, The Australian National University
Speaker Bio
Professor Peter J. Dean PhD SFHEA is the General Sir Francis Hassett Chair of Military Studies at the Australian War College and professor of strategic studies at The Australian National University.
In 2022-23 he was the Co-Lead of the Defence Strategic Review Secretariat, where he served as Senior Advisor and principal author for the Independent Leads, Professor The Hon. Stephen Smith and Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret’d). In 2024 he was the principal consulting author for the Australian Government’s 2024 Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Plan.
Previously Professor Dean was Director of the Foreign Policy and Defence Program at United States Studies Centre – Sydney University, Chair of War Studies and the Director of the Defence and Security Institute at the University of Western Australia, and Pro Vice Chancellor (Education) at the University of Western Australia. Prior to these roles he held numerous leadership and research roles the Australian National University, The University of Notre Dame Australia and the University of New South Wales.
Professor Dean has an extensive background in strategic and defence studies with a focus on Australia, the United States and Japan. An international award-winning author he has authored ten books, dozens of major policy papers and articles on Australian strategic policy, military operations, the US-Australian alliance and regional security.
Professor Dean has been a Fulbright Fellow and Endeavour Research Scholar and in addition to his Hassett Chair Role he is currently a non-resident Senior Advisor for Defence Strategy at the US Studies Centre and Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington D.C.
In 2022-23 he was the Co-Lead of the Defence Strategic Review Secretariat, where he served as Senior Advisor and principal author for the Independent Leads, Professor The Hon. Stephen Smith and Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret’d). In 2024 he was the principal consulting author for the Australian Government’s 2024 Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Plan.
Previously Professor Dean was Director of the Foreign Policy and Defence Program at United States Studies Centre – Sydney University, Chair of War Studies and the Director of the Defence and Security Institute at the University of Western Australia, and Pro Vice Chancellor (Education) at the University of Western Australia. Prior to these roles he held numerous leadership and research roles the Australian National University, The University of Notre Dame Australia and the University of New South Wales.
Professor Dean has an extensive background in strategic and defence studies with a focus on Australia, the United States and Japan. An international award-winning author he has authored ten books, dozens of major policy papers and articles on Australian strategic policy, military operations, the US-Australian alliance and regional security.
Professor Dean has been a Fulbright Fellow and Endeavour Research Scholar and in addition to his Hassett Chair Role he is currently a non-resident Senior Advisor for Defence Strategy at the US Studies Centre and Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington D.C.
