MAST Conference Committee – Adelaide, 2024

Dr. John Bruni is the Founder and Director of SAGE International Australia (SIA). SIA is South Australia’s first and only privately operated online not-for-profit geopolitical think tank and consultancy. Operating since 2008, SIA is recognised by the Open Think Tank Directory as one of Australia’s 35 registered think tanks. Since 2011, SIA has been partnered with the Swiss Center for Security Studies (CSS ETH Zurich). Dr. Bruni is also on the Board of Directors of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence & Security Studies – Australia (RUSIDSS-A), an institution he has been involved with for well over two decades. He has long-term experience in teaching international relations, politics and security. His primary area of expertise is in defence acquisition, having authored a book on this topic: ‘On Weapons Decisions’ (ISBN 0 7334 19054). He is a researcher and analyst who has worked for the IHS Jane’s Sentinel & Intelligence Review products (UK). Dr. Bruni also worked for the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at His Highness’s private think tank, the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies & Research (ECSSR), Abu Dhabi, as military adviser and analyst. Dr. Bruni has written extensively on international relations, having been published by Oxford University, the ECSSR, SIA and the CSS. He has had experience in conducting seminars and workshops on interagency co-operation; terrorism; asymmetric warfare; change management (government) and geospatial intelligence in the Arabian Gulf (Abu Dhabi, Dubai & Manama). Dr. Bruni is a long-term media commentator for both the South Australian and Australian media on topics including terrorism, defence and Australia’s international relations.

Vice-Admiral Pascal Ausseur served in operational positions on surface ships, especially within the French Aircraft Carrier Group. He was appointed three times as commanding officer, notably the air defense destroyer (DDGH) Jean Bart.

He took part to numerous operations in the Gulf of Guinea, the Persian-Arabian Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea, the Middle-East and the Indian Ocean.

Beside this operational career, he was much involved in political-military and international affairs at the strategic level. He was in particular in charge of the Euro-Atlantic area, the UN, the EU and NATO. He was assigned twice at the Private Office of the Minister of Defense: with minister Hervé Morin as head of the international office “Western World and Asia” and with minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as chief of the military Private Office.

He has been responsible for defense industry cooperation and export for Asia and Pacific at the DGA (Defense procurement and technology agency).

He has been finally Maritime Prefect for the Manche and North Sea, acting for the Government and commanding the military forces in this area.

Vice Admiral Eric Chaperon is a graduate of the French Naval Academy (1980 cohort). After serving on the Jeanne d’Arc helicopter cruiser, he was appointed as gunnery officer on the aviso vessels Premier-Maître L’Her, based out of Toulon, then Commandant Blaison, deployed in the Pacific Ocean. In 1986, he commanded the Lynx training ship based in Brest and served on several other vessels before being appointed as Aide de Camp to the French Secretary for Defence from 1991 to 1993. He then joined the Ministry of Defence’s information and public relations department (SIRPA). During that period, he deployed to Sarajevo on a six-month mission as spokesperson for UNPROFOR Command.

After commanding the aviso Amyot d’Inville from 1995 to 1996, he was appointed to the operations division of the Naval High Command in Paris. He received his diploma from the Collège Interarmées de Défense (joint forces academy) in 1999.

After serving in the Naval Action Force from 1999 to 2006, Vice Admiral Chaperon was appointed to the force deployment directorate at the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces, where he was responsible for crisis management, special forces, information operations and amphibious operations until 2009.

On 1 September 2009, he joined the 115th session of the NATO Defence College Senior Course in Rome. On completion, he returned to the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces in February 2010, serving initially as deputy of the force deployment directorate, then as a special adviser to the directorate of studies, coordination and management, and finally as head of the international organisations directorate from 1 August 2012.

From 2013 to 2016, he assumed command of France’s air/maritime rapid reaction force. In this role, he twice commanded the carrier group in the Indian Ocean as part of operations Bois Belleau and Arromanches.

From 2016 to 2017, he was vice deputy to the chief of operations and general officer, defence and security at the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces. He served as head of the French military representation at the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in Brussels from 1 September 2017.

Admiral Davis has over 40 years of program management, executive leadership and engineering management in support of Department of Defense. He completed over 35 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Rear Admiral and joining American Systems Corporation in 2003. He began as a nuclear trained submarine officer, and served in various shore and sea billets including two commands at sea. The last 15 years of service was as an acquisition professional, serving as program manager for a major weapons program and over five years as a Program Executive Officer (PEO) in Naval Sea Systems Command. His field of expertise includes nuclear ship construction, combat systems, sonar, communications, all undersea weapons and surface ship self defense systems. Since joining American Systems Corporation in 2003, Admiral Davis has continued his involvement with a variety of engineering programs for DOD, and commercial customers as an American Systems Executive Director and Vice President of Professional, Technical and IT services in Washington, D.C.

Admiral Davis received a BS from the U.S. Naval Academy and MS degree in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Short CV Dr. Hans Dieter Ehrenberg

Born 1956 in Esslingen Germany

1966 to 1975 High School Education

1975 to 1979 Officer career in the German Navy, engineering department, destroyer flotilla

1979 to 1985 Studies of Naval Architecture at the Universities of Hannover and Hamburg, Germany

1986 to 2000 Product Development, Projects and Marketing Engineer at Blohm + Voss Shipyards, Hamburg; Manager Product Planning for MEKO-Corvettes, Frigates and Surface Effect Ships, Ph. D. thesis on Seakeeping of Surface Effect Ships

2000 to 2002 Sales Director for ship projects at trading house MPC Marine, Hamburg

2002 to 2005 Manager Research and Development ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Vice President Jafo Technologies, Hamburg

Since 2005 Director Naval Systems Department at EADS, Ulm, Germany, after integration of this business unit into ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH in 2007 Director Business Development Germany at ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH in Bremen

Mr. Charles Giacchi is the principle partner of Strategic Management Partners (SMP) and a Member of the California Military Council.

He has over 40 years experience managing large complex enterprises. Prior to founding SMP, Mr. Giacchi was the Technical Director of the Naval Surface Warfare Center where he directed six Divisions, 14,000 employees, and an annual budget of $3.3 billion. Before being selected as the NSWC TD, Mr. Giacchi was the Executive Director of the Port Hueneme Division where he managed a workforce of 2,200 employees and an operating budget of $600 million. Mr. Giacchi began his career as an engineer with Lockheed Electronics. Mr. Giacchi’s education includes an MS in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, and a BS in Engineering Technology from Chapman University. He was selected for membership in the Senior Executive Service (SES) in 1997, and was a 2006 recipient of the Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award, as well as numerous awards within the Navy and NAVSEA.

Ken is a Senior International and FMS Program Analyst based in DC who has supported the US Navy for over 43 years; his focus being Mine Warfare and Unmanned Maritime Systems. He was a senior US government civilian employee for over 38 years and has continued his support to USN following his departure from government service. Ken has held the positions of International Programs Director, Program Executive Office Littoral Combat Ships and USN Technical Project Officer (responsible for the bi-lateral exchange of Science & Technology and Research & Development information of mine warfare and unmanned maritime systems with 18 allied countries). At the same time he was the USN Program Office Mine Warfare Technical Director in Washington DC. Ken was also the recipient of the USN Superior Civilian Service Award, the highest award a civilian employee who supports the USN can receive.

John B. Padgett, III is Electric Boat’s Vice President – Business Development and Strategic Planning. He joined the company in December 2003 following a 34-year career in the U.S. Navy.

A career submarine officer, Padgett commanded the attack submarine USS Omaha (SSN692), served as Commander, Submarine Squadron ELEVEN and was the 75th Commandant of Midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Following selection to flag rank, Padgett served on the staff of United States Strategic Command, on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations and as Commander, Submarine Group TWO.

Padgett’s final assignment on active duty was as the 30th Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

A 1969 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mr. Padgett also holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Short CV Dr. Hans Dieter Ehrenberg

Born 1956 in Esslingen Germany

1966 to 1975 High School Education

1975 to 1979 Officer career in the German Navy, engineering department, destroyer flotilla

1979 to 1985 Studies of Naval Architecture at the Universities of Hannover and Hamburg, Germany

1986 to 2000 Product Development, Projects and Marketing Engineer at Blohm + Voss Shipyards, Hamburg; Manager Product Planning for MEKO-Corvettes, Frigates and Surface Effect Ships, Ph. D. thesis on Seakeeping of Surface Effect Ships

2000 to 2002 Sales Director for ship projects at trading house MPC Marine, Hamburg

2002 to 2005 Manager Research and Development ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Vice President Jafo Technologies, Hamburg

Since 2005 Director Naval Systems Department at EADS, Ulm, Germany, after integration of this business unit into ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH in 2007 Director Business Development Germany at ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH in Bremen

Charles J. (Chuck) Beers is the Vice President, Maritime Programs and the Norfolk Field Office Manager at the Lockheed Martin Corporation’s Norfolk Domestic Business Development Office. In this capacity he provides Corporate Field Marketing coverage to the important Maritime customers in the Norfolk area. He also chairs the Corporation’s Maritime Focus Team, which is designed to bring the various corporate business units together and focus on complex Maritime programs / issues across the corporation.

Before coming to Lockheed Martin, Chuck served on active duty with the US Navy. He retired in the rank of Rear Admiral in 1998.

He served as the Commanding Officer, USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL (SSN 708) a fast attack submarine. He returned to the staff of Commander Submarine Force as the Prospective Commanding Officer Instructor, responsible for training all submarine commanding officers. Following this tour, he relieved as Commanding Officer, USS DIXON (AS 37), a submarine repair ship.

Rear Admiral Beers and his wife, Susan, have two children. Their son, Clay, is a 1995 graduate of the Naval Academy and an F/A-18 pilot. He is currently assigned as the Naval Aide to the President of the United States. Their daughter, Irene, graduated from Colgate University in 1998 and is an adjunct professor at Gettysburg College.

In addition to being Honourable Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff, Admiral Christidis is also the former CEO of the state-owned Hellenic Defense Systems Corporation.

Kunio Fujisawa is retired JMSDF (Japan Maritime self defense Force) Captain.

He earned an Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering at the Meijo University and a Master of Science in Electronics Engineering at US Naval Postgraduate School.

He had worked as Technical Officer in JMSDF. He had assigned to R/D, acquisition, and maintenance jobs for several aircraft systems, include P-3C, SH-60, US-1, and P-1.

He had also worked in Central Procurement Office (CPO) and Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI).

He was Japanese Technical Liaison Officer (JTLO) in Naval Air development Center (NADC), he spend several years in Philadelphia, USA.

He had also worked at Operational Analysis Division, CINC Self Defense Fleet, and he took charge of the operational Research, Analysis, and Evaluation for entire JMSDF Fleet.

Currently, he is working at NEC Corporation as Military Adviser.

NEC is one of the leading providers of Acoustic Sensor Systems in Japan, and provide

wide range of products to Ministry of Defence, Japan.

Professor Emily Hilder commenced as Chief Maritime Division in November 2020.

Professor Emily Hilder was previously the Director of the Future Industries Institute (FII) and Deputy Director of the ARC Research Hub for integrated devices for end-user analysis at low levels (IDEAL) at University of South Australia. As Director:FII she also led the Future Industries Accelerator (FIA). Established through a $7.5 million investment from the Government of SA, FIA supported SA businesses, in particular SMEs to access research equipment and infrastructure, funding for R&D projects and staff secondments, with a focus on growing R&D capacity in industry and establishing long term, productive collaboration between universities and businesses.

Emily is a graduate of the University of Tasmania where she completed her PhD in analytical chemistry in 2000. Following postdoctoral positions at Johannes Kepler University (Austria) and the E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA) she returned to Australia and University of Tasmania in 2004 where she held two ARC Fellowships (APD, Future Fellowship) as well as positions as Assistant Dean of Graduate Research and Head of Chemistry. She was inaugural Director of the ARC Training Centre for Portable Analytical Separation Technologies (ASTech) before relocating to the University of South Australia in 2016. Her research is the field of analytical chemistry and materials science and is focused on the design and application of new materials that can be used to improve analytical measurements. Her work has led to commercial and field adoption in separation science, bioanalysis, disease diagnosis, environment and food science, defence and national security.

Emily is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) and the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) and has been recognised by a number of awards including the Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia (2019), RACI Doreen Clarke Analytical Medal (2016), UTAS Foundation Graduate Award (2010) and has been included in the Analytical Scientist Power Lists from 2013–2017, 2019 & 2020 including the ‘Top 40 under 40’ and as one of the top 10 leaders in analytical science. She is an Associate Editor of Analytical Chemistry (ACS) and a member of the South Australian Premier’s Science and Innovation Council.

Admiral Mies completed a distinguished 35-year career in the US Navy. He commanded US Strategic Command for four years prior to retirement. As Commander in Chief, he was directly responsible for the command and control of the Nation’s strategic nuclear forces supporting the national security objective of strategic deterrence.

Admiral Mies has a unique breadth and depth of operational and policy experience in undersea and strategic warfare. He has held both US and Allied commands at senior military levels. After completing training for submarine duty, he served on two nuclear attack submarines and a ballistic missile submarine before commanding the nuclear attack submarine, USS SEA DEVIL. He subsequently served in a wide range of distinctive command positions including Commander Submarine Development Squadron TWELVE, Commander, Submarine Group EIGHT and Commander, Allied Submarines, Mediterranean, and Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet and Commander, Submarine Allied Command, Atlantic.

His staff positions included duty on the staff of Commander in Chief, U. S. Atlantic Fleet, Executive Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Naval Operations (Undersea Warfare), Chief of Staff to Commander Submarine Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet, and Director Strategic Target Plans and Deputy Director Plans and Policy on the staff of Commander in Chief, U. S. Strategic Command.

Admiral Mies is one of a few flag officers to complete qualification as both a submariner and naval aviation observer. In addition to unit and service awards, his decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit (four awards), National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy Achievement Medal, and Secretary of Energy Gold Medal.

Admiral Mies is a native of Chicago, Illinois. A distinguished scholar and athlete, he graduated first in his class with highest honors from the U. S. Naval Academy. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with majors in mechanical engineering and mathematics. An intercollegiate wrestling champion and a lightweight football player, he was awarded the Thompson Trophy for contributing the most to the promotion of athletics at the Naval Academy. He has completed post-graduate education at Oxford University, England, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and Harvard University. He holds a Masters degree in government administration and international relations; he also holds an Honorary Doctorate of Law degree from the University of Nebraska. His professional education includes the Flag Officers’ Capstone course, the program for Senior Executives in National and International Security at Harvard University, and the Joint Flag Officer Warfighting course.

Following retirement from the Navy, Admiral Mies served as a Senior Vice President and Deputy Group President of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hicks and Associates, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of SAIC. He presently serves as the CEO and President of The Mies Group, LTD. Admiral Mies served as the Chairman of the Department of Defense Threat Reduction Advisory Committee from 2004-2010. He presently serves as the Chairman of the Boards of the Navy Mutual Aid Association and the Naval Submarine League, a member of the Committee on International Security and Arms Control of the National Academy of Sciences, a member of the Board of Governors of Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and a member of the Board of Directors of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, Babcock and Wilcox Company, and Exelon Corporation. He also serves on numerous advisory boards.