Samuel Bashfield

Dr Samuel Bashfield is a Senior Research Officer at the ANU National Security College and a Research Fellow & Director, Security & Geopolitics at the University of Melbourne’s Australia India Institute. His academic roles include non-residential fellowships with the Royal Australian Navy’s Sea Power Centre, Australian War College, and Observer Research Foundation. He holds a PhD in national security policy (conferred 2025) from ANU, a Master’s from ANU, and a Bachelor of Arts (Global) with first-class honours from Monash University.

His research focuses on Indo-Pacific security, defence policy, Indian Ocean dynamics, and seabed infrastructure protection. Notable works include analyzing Diego Garcia sovereignty disputes, India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities, and submarine cable vulnerabilities. He is co-authoring two books: one on seabed critical infrastructure and another on Cold War-era Indian Ocean strategic dynamics.

Dr Bashfield’s awards include the ANU Professional Staff Scholarship, National Security College Award, and Raisina Young Fellowship (2024). He has advised on security policy, consulted governments and industry, and contributed to multilateral initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre.