This talk was presented by Captain Justin Jones at the History at the Dixson, readers advisory seminar 7 March 2012.

1. The RAN Reading List
Captain Justin Jones, RAN
Director
Sea Power Centre – Australia.
7 March 2012

2. Sea Power Centre – Australia
Navy’s ‘think tank’
- Promote understanding of Sea Power and its application to
Australia’s national interests
- Manage the development of maritime and strategic concepts
- Manage the development of Australian maritime doctrine
- Preserve, promulgate and promote Navy history
- Contribute to the debate on contemporary maritime issues
- Contribute to regional engagement

3. Sea Power Centre – Australia;
Activities
s Public engagement on sea power and maritime issues
s Study developments in maritime strategy and doctrine
s Conduct and sponsor briefings, conferences, seminars,
lectures and study periods both in Australia and
overseas
s Conduct research and publish papers on maritime
issues
s Assist study and research by visiting fellows and
kindred organisations
s Maintain, develop and promote the history of the RAN,
Commonwealth and Colonial naval forces

4. Sea Power Centre – Australia;
Engagement
s Indonesian Naval Staff College (SESKOAL)
s Malaysian Armed Forces Defence College (MPAT)
s PUSTAKMAR
s Philippines Armed Forces Staff College
s India: National Maritime Foundation
s China
s International Conferences

5. Sea Power Centre – Australia;
Publications
s Doctrine
s Semaphore
s Soundings
s Sea Power Series (formerly Papers In Australian
Maritime Affairs)
s Commercial Publications:
- The Royal Australian Navy in World War II
- Sea Power Ashore and in the Air
- Positioning Navies for the Future
- Australia’s Navy in the Gulf
- Australia’s Navy in Vietnam

6. Why a Reading List?
s ‘We must dare to think unthinkable
thoughts. We must explore all of the
options and possibilities that confront us
in a complex and rapidly changing world.’
James William
Fulbright
s ‘The nation that makes great distinction
between its scholars and its warriors will
have its thinking done by cowards and its
fighting done by fools.’
Thucydides

7. Tips we provide
s Read in depth about a single topic
s Read widely about a broad topic
s Read about different topics
s Read good military fiction
s Read beyond this list
s Read again!

8. Structure
s Professional reading
- Classical maritime strategy
- Modern maritime strategy
- Naval history
s General reading
- Contemporary regional maritime affairs
- Social and cultural material
- Naval and military films and documentaries
- journals

9. Final thought
‘We must dare to read, write, learn and
publish.’
Admiral James Stavridis, USN
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe

10. Sea Power Centre – Australia;
Information
s Website: www.navy.gov.au/spc
s E-mail: seapower.centre@defence.gov.au

11. QUESTIONS?