Crawford School of Public Policy

One of the world’s most respected figures in intelligence and security will join The Australian National University (ANU) as visiting Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor.

James R Clapper AO, the former US Director of National Intelligence, will commence in June with an initial four-week term at the National Security College at Crawford School that will include public lectures on key global and national security issues including the future of Australia’s alliance with the United States.

Mr Clapper will engage with policymakers and security practitioners, as well as academics, students and private sector partners in the College’s work on issues such as cyber security and analysing future strategic challenges.

He will also take part in the ANU Crawford Australian Leadership Forum, the nation’s pre-eminent dialogue of academics, parliamentarians and business leaders.

“I’m looking forward very much to being involved with The Australian National University,” Mr Clapper said.

“I have tremendous respect and affection for Australia as an ally of the United States. I have long appreciated Australia’s distinct insights on security issues and I look forward to engaging more closely with thinking in Canberra.”

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt AC said the University was privileged to host Jim Clapper as part of its commitment to the highest levels of engagement with the world’s critical policy challenges.

The Head of the ANU National Security College, Professor Rory Medcalf, said that hosting global figures like Jim Clapper was an important way for the College to contribute to the quality of Australian policy-making in an uncertain world.

Mr Clapper is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Air Force and from 2010 to January 2017, was Director of National Intelligence, the Cabinet-level official in charge of the US intelligence community, his last position in a career of more than 50 years in US intelligence.