Defence Services Staff College appoints Amitabh Mattoo as Chair of Excellence on India's Strategic Culture
Tamil Nadu-based Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), a training institution under the Ministry of Defence announced on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) the appointment of Professor Amitabh Mattoo, Dean of the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), to the first-ever Chair of Excellence on India's Strategic Culture.
In a press statement, DSSC stated that this appointment will take effect from June 1 for a duration of one year, with the possibility of extension for an additional year, and will be in addition to his continuing role as Dean at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
In his new role, Professor Mattoo will engage with faculty and officers undergoing training at DSSC, contribute to curriculum development, and mentor research that deepens our understanding of India's rich and complex strategic culture. 'His scholarship—rooted in both classical Indian thought and contemporary global theory—offers an invaluable perspective at a time of profound geopolitical change,' the press statement said.
Professor Mattoo stated, 'It is a privilege to be entrusted with this Chair. India's strategic thought has long drawn from its civilizational wisdom as well as contemporary realpolitik. I look forward to working with the outstanding faculty and officers at DSSC to deepen our understanding of India's strategic culture and contribute to India's preparedness in an increasingly complex world.'
A Padma Shri awardee, Professor Mattoo is an academic, policy advisor, and institution-builder, widely recognized for his contributions to strategic studies, diplomacy, and international relations. Currently serving as the Dean of the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), he has previously served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu and as Honorary Professor of International Relations at the University of Melbourne. He has been a member of the National Security Council's Advisory Board.
'Professor Mattoo's appointment to the Distinguished Chair marks a significant milestone in DSSC's continuing commitment to fostering advanced research and strategic thinking within the Indian defence and academic establishments,' the statement said.
The statement also said, 'DSSC looks forward to Professor Mattoo's contributions in enriching the intellectual ecosystem of the College and advancing India's strategic discourse on the global stage.'
'The DSSC, which trains officers of the Indian Armed Forces, paramilitary forces, civil services, and foreign militaries for senior leadership roles, views this initiative as essential to enriching professional military education in India with deeper indigenous knowledge systems and strategic perspectives,' the statement further said.
'This appointment represents a timely confluence of academic scholarship and national service, strengthening the bridges between India's universities and its defence institutions,' the statement added.
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