An Australian graduate of the Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC) has returned to the Defence Academy to take up a role dating back nearly 90 years.
Lieutenant Colonel Matt Dobney of the Royal Australian Engineers will serve on the Directing Staff for ACSC 28, having graduated from the course in 2019 as part of ACSC 22.
An exchange programme between British and Australian Army Directing Staff dating back to 1939 is one of the Australian Army’s longest standing exchange postings. In turn, a British counterpart joins the Directing Staff of the Joint Command and Staff College at Weston Creek, Canberra. Previous participants of the exchange programme include former Chief of Army and Governor of Western Australia, Lieutenant General John Sanderson; and former Chief of Defence Force and Governor-General of Australia, General Sir Peter Cosgrove.
Most recently, Lt Col Dobney has held command of the 6th Engineer Support Regiment. During which, he led the regiment on short notice disaster relief operations in Vanuatu, after twin category four cyclones devastated its capital, Port Villa, in 2022. He was then seconded to the world’s largest mining company, BHP Company Ltd, where he assisted in building leadership capability and culture.
Speaking of his return to the Defence Academy’s Joint Services Command and Staff College, Lt Col Dobney said:
ACSC prepares mid-ranking UK and international military officers, and civil servants, for senior positions. This year, 264 course members, including 101 internationals from 55 nations have been accepted on to the course.
Over their year on ACSC, course members are encouraged to think critically and make sound decisions that evaluate moral, ethical, and legal consideration within a military context.