Signal Intelligence - Australia's history and ongoing engagement
Wednesday, 18th February 2015
Pine Gap has been operational since its first satellite, Rhyolite 1 was launched on 19 June 1970. The facility has been instrumental in signals intelligence collection during the two Iraq wars, the Balkans conflicts, and Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent ?war on terror?. It?s presence in Australia has been a topic of debate for over 40 years. David will relate some of the facility?s history and his experiences in signals intelligence (SIGINT).
The Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap in Alice Springs is a ground control site that intercepts and analyses electronic signals collected by satellites. Most signals are associated with weapons testing and communication systems. Target countries include Russia, China, Iran, N. Korea, & Pakistan.
On 27 June, Hardie Grant Publishers released his book, Inside Pine Gap, the first book written about Pine Gap by an individual who held the top secret security clearance that allowed him to work inside Operations. His book details the intelligence collection mission at Pine Gap and the partnership between Australia and the United States that has made Pine Gap the most important satellite ground site in the Intelligence Community.
Date and Time
Wed, 18 Feb 2015
18:00 - 19:30 AEDT
Location
Presenter(s)
David Rosenberg completed a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida and was employed as a civilian by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) for 23 years, completing his last 18 years with the Agency in Operations at the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap in Alice Springs. When he left in 2008, he was the United States government?s longest serving technical liaison officer in Australia. He became an Australian citizen in 2009.
David was trained in Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) and has over 20 years experience in the Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) community, evaluating the function, capabilities, performance, and vulnerability assessment of all types of radar, associated weapon systems such as Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs), ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and countermeasure techniques / tactics. He has 18 years experience with all aspects of satellite surveillance resources, assets, equipment, and recording techniques and over 20 years experience in the production and reporting of intelligence across the global Intelligence Community.