The Asia and the Pacific regions have become a major focus of U.S. policy in recent administrations as concerns with China have grown.  Australia plays a central role in this emerging strategy.  The AUKUS, the trilateral defense technology and equipment sharing arrangement with the UK and the U.S, and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) are key examples of a mutually beneficial defense strategy to strengthen ties with friendly countries in the area.  These initiatives as well as others taken by Australia and many countries throughout the region play an important role in ensuring a secure environment throughout the region. 

Our speaker is well-qualified to address these issues.  Professor John Blaxland is Director of the Australian National University’s North America Liaison Office and Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies in the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre (SDSC).  He is currently assigned to the Embassy of Australia in Washington, D.C.  Dr. Blaxland is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs.  Prior to academia, he was a military intelligence officer, serving as Chief Intelligence Staff Officer (J2) at HQ Joint Operations Command, and Australia’s defence attaché to Thailand and Myanmar.  He was also the brigade intelligence officer (S2) for the land component of the International Force East Timor (INTERFET).  He was posted as an exchange officer at the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington DC (including for a deployment with 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit on USS Boxer) and was awarded a U.S. Meritorious Service Medal for his contribution.

Dr. Blaxland is an Australian citizen, born in Chile. He went to school at Barker College, Sydney. He is a graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon (Blamey Scholar), the University of New South Wales (BA Hons. 1), the ANU (MA), the Royal Thai Army Command and Staff College (diploma), and the Royal Military College of Canada (PhD, War Studies).

6:00 Cocktails      6:45 Dinner           7:45 Address and Discussion

Save the Date - March 13, 2025

Ambassador Alina Romaowshi, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq