The global military conflicts of the 21st century revealed a need for new styles of command. Trust and Leadership depicts the use of mission command in the Australian Army. Written by serving and retired military officers, this essay collection reveals how Australian mission command was applied during ten global conflicts from Australian Imperial Forces in the First World War through 21st century operations. Forewords by LTG (Ret.) L. D. Holder and General Sir Peter Cosgrove begin this collection.

Trust and Leadership is an official AUSA Book Program title.

Dr. Russell W. Glenn’s military career included service in Korea, Germany, United Kingdom, and a combat tour in Iraq during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with the 3rd Armored Division. He was a senior defense analyst with RAND from 1997 to 2009 and is currently on the faculty of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at The Australian National University.

Dr. Glenn has degrees from the United States Military Academy, University of Southern California, Stanford University, School of Advanced Military Studies, and University of Kansas. Past research includes studies on counterinsurgency, urban operations, military and police training, and intelligence operations. His Rethinking Western Approaches to Counter-Insurgency was published in spring 2015.

“Mission command remains the most effective method to exploit the fleeting opportunities of battle. Looking across a century of Australian military experience, Trust and Leadership is an important and insightful exploration of what it takes to nurture mission command in our teams. Leadership and trust are essential ingredients for success.”

– General Angus J. Campbell, AO, DSC, Chief of Defence Force Australia

“In hard fighting alongside scores of armies, I have served with few that can match the world class fighting qualities of the Australians, well known for ‘punching above their weight.’” This masterful book reveals how Diggers, embracing the technique of mission command built on trust, unleash such initiative, and why the Australian Army thrives in the most uncertain circumstances. An essential addition to every leader’s library.”

– General James N. Mattis, U.S. Marines (Ret.), 26th Secretary of Defense

“For over 100 years, Australian and American forces have fought together as close allies. This important book on Australian Army mission command experiences across the globe shows, again and again, what we can learn from each other as we enter the next 100 years of mateship.”

– Nick Warner, AO PSM, Director, General National Intelligence

“As the officer entrusted with the codification of Mission Command for the British Army in the mid-1990s, I much looked forward to reading and reviewing this title. I was not disappointed. This work is a most valuable contribution to the study of mission command in an army that has now embodied this decentralized philosophy of command in both doctrine and practice.”

– Mungo Melvin, Major General, British Army (Ret.)

“Trust and Leadership provides valuable commentaries on command aspects of Australia’s past wars and particularly its more recent operations. Perhaps more importantly, it provides much food for thought for military professionals in both the Australian and U.S. armies. Indeed, it should be required reading for unit commanders and officers attending command and staff colleges.”

– Dr. David Horner, Official Historian, Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations

As a partner to the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Book Program, UNG Press will aid AUSA’s educational mission by producing high-quality books to be designated as “AUSA Books.” These books will address such subjects as military land power and land warfare history, technology, combat, and strategy and tactics. This curated collection will serve to help and educate members of the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense, the AUSA, U.S. government officials, and the general public. To further these goals, AUSA will promote UNG Press’s AUSA Books by linking them to AUSA’s website, listing them in AUSA publications as a member benefit, and reviewing them in ARMY magazine or other AUSA publications.