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The Federal Government has announced the appointment of Brigadier Hugh Meggitt as the next head of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator for the Australian Defence Force.
Brigadier Meggitt brings expertise across innovation, capability delivery, and industry engagement, including from his role as Director General Special Operations Modernisation at the ADF’s Headquarters Joint Operations Command.
Brigadier Meggitt has a track record in managing diverse, complex priorities that require coordination, understanding and agreement at the most senior levels of Defence and government. His skillset and drive will be invaluable assets as ASCA moves to a new phase of capability delivery.
Reflecting this new phase, ASCA will also transition into the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group, ensuring investments are directly informed by operational needs and delivering an integrated, focused force as required under the National Defence Strategy.
“The Defence Strategic Review made clear that we needed to do more to invest in new and innovative technologies for the ADF, and that is precisely what the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator is delivering,” according to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
“Since its establishment ASCA has worked with Australian industry and our international partners to identify these capabilities, including by working with the United States and the United Kingdom to operationalise AUKUS Pillar II across areas such as undersea warfare and hypersonics.
“This next phase of ASCA’s delivery will ensure Australia can continue to invest in and deliver advanced capabilities that will help keep our nation safe, while supporting local industry, innovation and jobs.”
The Government acknowledges and thanks Professor Emily Hilder for her significant contribution to the establishment of ASCA.
Under Professor Hilder, ASCA has proven its value in supporting innovation in priority areas including hypersonics, directed energy, trusted autonomy, quantum technology, information warfare and long-range fires, while helping to commercialise technologies and contributing to job creation in the Australian defence industry.
“The Albanese Government established ASCA to transform Australia’s defence innovation ecosystem so that game-changing ideas can be developed into capabilities that give the ADF an asymmetric advantage,” according to Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy.
“ASCA has already made great inroads in accelerating advanced capabilities for our ADF, underscoring the Albanese Government’s commitment to investing in local innovation and a future made in Australia.
“After a necessary period of establishing itself and learning, ASCA is now moving into its next phase of delivery which will see it more closely aligned with needs of military end users and accelerate cutting-edge capabilities into service.”
ASCA was established to accelerate delivery of capabilities to the ADF including by supporting and investing in emerging and disruptive technologies and nurturing innovations that address priority capability needs. Through ASCA, the Federal Government is investing in domestic manufacturing which provides a critical conduit for jobs and a future made in Australia.
