Security Challenges Journal

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Capability-Based Planning for Australia’s National Security

Authors: Leung Chim, Rick Nunes-Vaz and Robert Prandolini

Volume 6, Number 3 (Spring 2010), pp. 79-96.

Abstract

The National Security Statement aims to improve whole-of-government strategic planning and policy coordination, leading to a more integrated national security community. This work argues that these objectives would be substantially assisted by taking a capability-based approach to planning and coordination. The use of Capability-Based Planning (CBP) in the defence community and the US homeland security domain is reviewed. Drawing from these applications, the article identifies key concepts and enablers of CBP, suggests an implementation that would assist Australia’s national security development, and proposes the principle steps involved in the process of maturing Australian national security capability management.

About the Authors

Dr Leung Chim has a BSc(Hons) from the University of Sydney and a PhD in theoretical physics from Rutgers University. Since joining the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) he has specialised in military operations research in support of Defence capability development. He is currently working in the field of risk analysis for national security. Leung.Chim@dsto.defence.gov.au.

Dr Rick Nunes-Vaz is the Head of Counter-Terrorism and Security Analysis at the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), in Adelaide where he leads research using quantitative methods and other 'semi-rigorous' techniques such as risk analysis to inform strategic questions in national security. Prior to this appointment, he was developing and applying new approaches to military experimentation in DSTO and was a co-author of the five-nation (TTCP) Guide for Understanding and Implementing Defense Experimentation (GUIDEx, 2006). Prior to joining the Department of Defence, he enjoyed a successful academic career with an international reputation for his research in the physics of ocean mixing processes. Rick.Nunes-Vaz@dsto.defence.gov.au.

Dr Robert Prandolini graduated with honours in Bachelor of Engineering and then a PhD in Singal Processing from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 1986 and 1996 respectively. He joined the Australian Federal Police (AFP) as an expert in forensic electronic recording in 1995. In 1999 he left the AFP to work on image coding and management with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). He was seconded to the National Security Science and Technology Branch of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from late 2008 to mid-2010. He presently works in the Project and Requirements Division of DSTO supporting Technical Risk products produced by DSTO for the Defence capability development processes. Robert.Prandolini@dsto.defence.gov.au.