Deborah receiving the award (with Air Vice Marshal Roxley McLennan (Retd), who presented the award on the right, and USI President, Major General Mike Crane (Retd) on the left).
SDSC PhD candidate Deborah Jeppesen awarded the Royal United Services Institute of Australia Leo Mahoney Bursary
Deborah Jeppesen, who is undertaking her PhD at SDSC under Dr. Aurore Chow, has been awarded the Royal United Services Institute of Australia Leo Mahoney Bursary. The award was made on the basis of the importance, innovativeness, and relevance to Australian national security of her research on the behavior of Australian Defence Force personnel in train, advise, and assist roles. The Bursary includes a $5000 research grant and honorary membership of the institute.
Please see below for more information about Deborah’s research and the bursary.
Thesis Title: How do Australian Defence Force personnel explain the behaviours they employ in Train, Advise and Assist roles?
Deborah’s research is investigating the attributes of military advisors which lead to success in Train Advise and Assist (TAA) roles. While her focus is predominantly on Afghanistan, Deborah has also interviewed Vietnam veterans, allied security force advisors from the US and UK who participated in other military operations, and will interview personnel who have deployed to Iraq. Deborah is focused on how interpersonal factors and emotional self-regulation can assist in building mentoring relationships or cause them to fail. Her aim is to interview a cross section of advisors in TAA roles to explore how advising is experienced. She is hoping her data will provide a firm foundation for ADF senior leaders to consider the selection and training of personnel deployed in advisory, humanitarian or diplomatic roles.
The Leo Mahony Bursary
The Leo Mahony Bursary is awarded annually to a masters (by research) or doctoral scholar studying in the field of national security and defence at an ACT-based university.
The Bursary commemorates the memory and service of founding National Secretary of RUSI-A and long-time USI member and Councillor, Mr Leo Mahony.
The Bursary comprises a one-off payment of $5000, which is provided by USI of the ACT with the generous support of our partner, Rolls-Royce Australia. Recipients are also offered Honorary Membership of the Institute for 12 months. The Bursary and certificate of Honorary Membership are traditionally presented at the Members’ Dinner, which is held in September each year.
Who is eligible?
Australian citizens who: • are studying at an ACT university;
• are enrolled in a Masters (by research) or PhD program that leads to a thesis;
• have an approved research proposal for their program; and
• have not previously won the Leo Mahony Bursary.
What are the selection criteria?
• Relevance. The research must contribute to the body of national security or defence knowledge.
• Innovation. Ideally, the research will address a new or under-examined area in the national security and defence sector. Historical papers are welcomed, but must demonstrate explicit relevance to contemporary or future issues.
• Academic merit. The research must have an appropriate standard of academic merit.
