defense-aerospace.com
all the defense and aerospace news
defense news
aerospace news
Australia : New Defence Intelligence Arrangements
The Minister for Defence, John Moore, today announced new arrangements for the senior level management of defence intelligence functions.
A Defence Intelligence Board (DIB) will be created to oversee the provision of better intelligence to support Defence and Government decision making.
"I am establishing the DIB to help ensure that Australia can maintain its strategic intelligence edge," Mr Moore said. "In the demanding strategic and technological environment of the next century, Defence increasingly will rely on intelligence to protect Australia's interests.
"At the same time, the challenges involved in collecting, analysing and distributing intelligence material will grow and become more complex. The creation of the DIB is one way that we can better manage our intelligence resources to maximise outputs."
The establishment of the DIB is in addition to the creation of the Australian Imagery Organisation (AIO) which will be responsible for the collection, interpretation and use of imagery to support Australia's strategic and national intelligence needs.
The DIB will perform the following functions:
*Direction of the overall planning and management of Defence intelligence agencies - the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD), the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO), and the Australian Imagery Organisation (AIO);
*Ensure that output from Defence intelligence agencies meet the needs of Defence and its partners both in Australia and overseas;
* Oversee higher level relationships between Defence and its intelligence partners in Australia and overseas;
* Ensure that each intelligence agency has appropriate strategies in place for the training and development of world class intelligence analysts; and
* Ensure there are strategies in place aimed at instilling in each Defence intelligence agency and the recipients of their intelligence output, an appropriate security culture.
"To reinforce these improvements to Australia's intelligence capabilities, the Government imitated a major overhaul of senior management of the Defence Intelligence function," Mr Moore said. "Mr Martin Brady, currently Acting Deputy Secretary Strategy, has taken up a new appointment as Chairman of the DIB.
"In addition to being accountable for the Board's performance, he will be responsible for the management of the resources and staff allocated to Intelligence, and the oversight and coordination of the Defence intelligence community."
Members of the Board will be drawn from the Defence intelligence community, Defence Headquarters, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Commander Australian Theatre and the Office of National Assessments.
Mr Ron Bonighton, formerly Head, Systems Acquisition Division (Electronic Systems), Defence Acquisition Organisation, has been appointed Director, DSD.
Mr Frank Lewincamp, formerly First Assistant Secretary, Resources and Financial Programs, has been appointed Director DIO.
Mr Chris Stephens has been appointed as Director, Australian Imagery Organisation. Mr Stephens has extensive experience in the Army, intelligence and the private sector.
-ends-
Australia : New Defence Intelligence Arrangements