Centre for Defence Research

Centre for Defence Research (CDR) is part of Australian Defence College, the strategic provider of joint professional military education and individual training for Australian Defence Force.

CDR promotes mastery in the profession of arms and guides scholarly research for policy and applied strategic studies – principally to serve the needs of the Secretary of Defence, the Chief Defence Force and defence and national security senior leadership.

The Centre was formed in 2013 to conduct and promote scholarly research of critical interest to Defence. It aims to raise the level of professionalism and intellectual debate on issues of strategic importance to Defence.

CDR delivers a high quality engagement and academic outreach program including fellowships, conferences and seminars.

CDR also offers a range of short courses for ADF personnel, Defence civilians, interagency personnel and international partners. These courses are opportunities to develop strategic insight and to collaborate with military and civilian professionals from across Defence, interagency personnel and selected overseas officers and regional partners.

CDR manages publications for the Australian Defence College.

• Australian Journal of Defence and Strategic Studies
• The Vanguard occasional paper series
• Joint Studies Paper Series

CDR hosts 2 senior research fellows, who provide timely and expert analysis on major issues facing Australian strategic policy. They produce a monthly newsletter, The Looking Glass and digest, The Listening Post.

CDR is located in the Shedden Building of the Weston campus of the Australian Defence College in the Canberra region of the Australian Capital Territory.