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The Australian National University

David Horner, AM, DipMilStud (RMC), MA (Hons) (UNSW), PhD (ANU)
Official Historian and Professor of Australian Defence History, School of International, Political & Strategic Studies

Email: David.Horner@anu.edu.au

Research interests

David Horner head and shoulders Australian defence history, particularly strategy, command, intelligence and operations and current defence issues. His major research projects are the Official History of Australian Peacekeeping and Post-Cold War Operations, which is a joint ANU-Australian War Memorial project; and the Official History of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

Key publications

  • High Command, Australia and Allied Strategy, 1939-1945, George Allen & Unwin, Sydney, in association with the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, 1982.
  • The Gunners: A History of Australian Artillery, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1995.
  • Inside the War Cabinet: Directing Australia's War Effort, 1939-1945, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1996.
  • (with Desmond Ball) Breaking the Codes: Australia's KGB Network, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1998.
  • Blamey: The Commander-in-Chief, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1998.
  • Defence Supremo: Sir Frederick Shedden and the Making of Australian Defence Policy, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2000.
  • The Australian Centenary History of Defence, Volume 4, Making the Australian Defence Force, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2001.
  • Strategic Command: General Sir John Wilton and Australia's Asian Wars, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2005.

Career highlights

Served for 25 years in the Australian Regular Army, including active service in South Vietnam; joined SDSC in 1990; Editor of the Army History Series (1994 to present); Head of the Australian Army's Land Warfare Studies Centre (1998 to 2002); adviser to TV programs.

Updated:  3 February 2012/Responsible Officer:  Dean, College of Asia & the Pacific /Page Contact:  web.cap@anu.edu.au