Robert O'Neill (historian)


Robert John O'Neill, is an Australian historian and academic. He is chair of the International Academic Advisory Committee at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, was director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, based in London, from 1982 to 1987, and Chichele Professor of the History of War at the University of Oxford from 1987 to 2000.

Early life and education

O'Neill graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1958, and from 1958 to 1969 served as an officer in the Australian Army. His service included a tour of the Vietnam War as an infantry captain with the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment from 1966 to 1967, during which he was Mentioned in Despatches. In 1965, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy thesis at the University of Oxford on "The Relationship between the German Army and the Nazi Party, 1933–9" under the direction of one of his predecessors as Chichele Professor of the History of War, N. H. Gibbs. The research for O'Neill's thesis formed the basis for his first book, The German Army and the Nazi Party, 1933–1939, published in 1966.

Academic career

O'Neill served as senior lecturer in history, Royal Military College, Duntroon, 1968–69. He was head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University in 1971–82, senior fellow in international relations, 1969–77, professorial fellow, 1977–82, Australian official historian of the Korean War from 1970 until 1982, director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and Chichele Professor of the History of War at the University of Oxford.
He was the founding chairman of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. He was chair of the International Academic Advisory Committee at the United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney. He was chairman of trustees of the Imperial War Museum, London, 1998–2001. He was chairman of the Council of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, 1996–2001.

Awards

Author