O’Shaughnessy traveled to Australia to discuss current and future partnership engagements with the goal of improving interoperability among air forces and ensuring increased security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. 

The key engagement while in Australia was the Institute for Regional Security (IFRS) Strategic Dialogue in Canberra, where O’Shaughnessy delivered a speech emphasizing the benefits of interoperability and highlighting the broad spectrum of U.S. capabilities relating to the challenges shared by Pacific partner nations. During his speech, the general emphasized the successes and promise of the current Australia-Japan-U.S. tri-lateral partnership and expansion. 

“The North Korean threat is bringing the international community closer together in ways that were difficult to imagine just a year ago,” O’Shaughnessy said. “From an Air Force perspective, despite the diversity and vastness of this region, we’re well attuned to the importance of interoperability and leveraging our respective capacities to deal with these challenges,” he continued. “Partnership and collaboration are foundational to the future of airpower and its contribution to regional security.” 

O’Shaughnessy also highlighted the importance of the development of fifth generation capabilities and noted that missions that once entailed multiple aircraft can be accomplished more efficiently with a single aircraft doing the job – a remarkable evolution of technology. 

“The real story of fifth generation capability is that this is not just a U.S. story,” he said. “It is really a story about a coalition of partner nations who will operate this platform in the very near future. Australia is already flying the F-35, and in late September I had the honor to be at the F-35 rollout of Japan’s first aircraft. This advancement to 5th generation capabilities amongst our allies and partners is happening now at a critical time for stability in this dynamic region.” 

Gen. O’Shaughnessy’s speech also provided insight to DoD’s Third Offset Strategy, which leverages innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, human-machine collaboration and network-enabled autonomous weapons that can operate in contested environments. 

“The U.S. is not alone in working these critical offset dimensions – our potential adversaries are also developing them,” he said. “As we advance the Third Offset, our greatest competitive advantage comes from having an environment that fosters free thinking and innovation – an advantage that democratic nations like the U.S., Australia, Japan and others enjoy. 

Along with his remarks at the IFRS Security Dialogue, O’Shaughnessy also met with numerous Australian defense leaders throughout his visit, including Air Marshal Leo Davies, Chief of Air Force, and Air Vice Marshal Gavin Turnbull, Air Commander Australia. Their discussions focused on furthering Enhanced Air Cooperation initiatives, a key component of the Force Posture Agreement Australia and the U.S. signed in August 2014 that laid the groundwork for deeper bilateral defense cooperation. 

The general also participated in several roundtables that addressed a variety of mutual topics including 5th generation capabilities and the F-35, access to and use of one another’s training ranges and facilities, and international rules and norms that govern flying activities in the global commons.

“Each of our nations brings unique capabilities to the airpower domain,” said O’Shaughnessy. “It’s not just the size or capacity of one air force that will change the future of airpower. It’s really about how we leverage our partnerships and capabilities -- how we interoperate, share best practices, and deepen friendship and trust between our nations. Working together will serve to bolster regional security at a time when threats to our collective security are growing. And by doing so, like-minded nations can bring stability to this dynamic region and ensure our future remains bright.”