US International Leadership Program Gives A Boost To History Research

University of Newcastle Senior Lecturer in American History Dr Michael L. Ondaatje, recently travelled to the United States to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).

He says the highlight of the trip was a briefing at the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) from a Senior Adviser to the US Chiefs of Staff on current US strategic policies and global security challenges, and having the chance to meet Colin Powell.

"I now have a greater understanding of the cultural and political influences on
US foreign policy, and new perspectives on leadership in international affairs and higher education (both in the US and Australia)," Dr Ondaatje said.

Dr Ondaatje said this experience will help him with his research as the program put him in contact with numerous scholars, politicians, policy makers and government officials who specialise in US foreign policy.

"These contacts will help me as I develop my new research in US-Australia relations, with special emphasis on the US pivot into the Asia-Pacific in the context of the rise of China."

He joined current and emerging international leaders in government, politics, the media and education for a two-week exchange of ideas and travelled across the country from Washington DC to New York and other cities in between.

He participated in a program called "Decision-Making in US Foreign Policy", specifically looking at how decisions are made, the processes of formulating, articulating and implementing foreign policy in the US federalist system, and US foreign policy priorities and trends.