Dale Stephens
Professor Dale Stephens is a Professor of Law at Adelaide University Law School. He was admitted to practice in 1989 and is a former Permanent Naval Legal Officer. He has occupied numerous senior positions within the Australian Defence Force, including Director of Operations and International Law, J06 HQJOC, Director of the Military Law Training Centre, Fleet Legal Officer and Director of Navy Legal Services. His operational deployments include multiple tours of East Timor and Iraq. He has been awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM), the (US) Bronze Star and the (US) Meritorious Service Medal. He attained the rank of Captain in the Royal Australian Navy before transferring to the Reserve in 2013. Professor Stephens holds both a Masters degree (LL.M) and Doctorate (SJD) from Harvard Law School. He is Director of the Adelaide University Research Unit on Military Law and Ethics (RUMLAE). He is a participating member of the San Remo Manual on the Law of Naval Warfare update project. He was an Editor and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Woomera Manual on the International Law of Military Space Activities and Operations (OUP, 2024). He wa Chair of the South Australian Red Cross IHL Advisory Committee from 2012 – 2024. In 2021 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Australian Red Cross. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.