 ASPI was officially launched at ANZAC Hall at the Australian War Memorial on March 13, 2002 by then Australian Minister for Defence, Sen the Hon Robert Hill.ASPI's inaugural director was Hugh White, who served as director from 2001 to 2004.White was Deputy Secretary for Strategy and Intelligence at the Australian Department of Defence between 1995 and 2000, and previously worked for the Office of National Assessments and as an adviser to Prime Minister Bob Hawke and Defence Minister Kim Beazley.