Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Information Management, and Deputy Chief Information Officer, Department of National Defence
Associated Director, Strategic Planning, Integrated Solutions Mission Systems, Collins Aerospace
Director General Intelligence Enterprise, Department of National Defence
Director General Information Capabilities and Force Development, Canadian Armed Forces
Director General, Land and Aerospace Equipment Procurement and Support,
Public Services and Procurement Canada
CMM, MSC, CD - CFN Consultants
Director General, Innovation, IDEaS
President & Senior Analyst, Canadian Global Affairs Institute
Senior Market Development Director, Aerospace and Defense, Real-Time Innovations (RTI)
Managing Director,
Growth and Strategy, Defense/Intel Portfolio,
Accenture Federal Services
Executive Vice-President, Professional Services Security, ADGA Group Consultants Inc.
CTO & Principal Digital Strategist, Federal Government, USA, ServiceNow
Commander US Army Joint Modernization Command
USAF (Retired), Professional Services Manager, Google
Chief Technology Officer, Defense & Intelligence, Microsoft
Defence and Federal Public Safety Leader, Microsoft Canada
Strategic Advisor, Accenture, Health and Public Sector
Strategic Advisor, Digital / Chief of Combat Systems Integration (CCSI), Canadian Armed Forces
Director of Solutions Development at Ultra Communications
Commanding Officer Canadian Joint Warfare Center
Technical Director SMD C2 BMC2 Chief Technologist, Raytheon Missiles and Defense
CBE Royal Marines, Chief Technology Officer, Royal Navy
Country Director, Systematic
Chief Engineer, General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada
Senior Director, Strategy and Government Relations
General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada
SSO International Cooperation, Programme Mime and MAST, Norwegian Defence Material Agency
Principal Digital Strategist, U.S. DoD/IC, ServiceNow
Copyright ©2019 Vanguard Canada Media
Alicia Datzman
Associated Director, Strategic Planning, Integrated Solutions Mission Systems
Alicia Datzman joined Collins Aerospace in October 2019 as a business development professional with the Test and Training Instrumentation team. She began her career in the defense industry as a USAF officer where she flew the B-1B for 12 years over multiple OIF and OEF deployments and later graduated from the USAF Weapons School. During her last active-duty assignment, she led the B-1B operational test integration work with DARPA that resulted in the first launch of the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). She currently works in the Integrated Solutions strategy team.
Her career also includes program management experience at Northrop Grumman on the JSTARS Recap Program and systems engineering experience for human in the loop testing. She graduated from Carson-Neman University with a B.S. in Child and Family Studies as well as an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. She earned her commission in the AFROTC program at the University of Tennessee and stays closely connected to current military tactical challenges in her MQ-9 pilot position in the Tennessee Air National Guard.
Alicia is passionate about supporting and empowering people in their own growth. She’s involved with a variety of veteran support organizations and volunteers as a coach with Girls on the Run near her home in the greater Nashville area.
Lieutenant-General Allen, CMM, CD is a Canadian Armed Forces officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. In 2021 she became Vice Chief of the Defence Staff.
Lieutenant-General Allen has commanded at multiple levels throughout her career including Officer Commanding the National Systems Management Centre in Ottawa, at the Aerospace and Telecommunications Engineering Support Squadron in Trenton as well as the Canadian Forces Network Operations Centre and the Canadian Forces Information Operations Group.
Staff appointments have included the Operations Officer for the Information Protection Centre, Executive Assistant to the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff, Director Support Operations in the Strategic Joint Staff. In 2014 promoted to Brigadier-General, she assumed the post of Director General Defence Security at NDHQ. Lieutenant-General Allen also served as Director General Cyberspace, Director General Information Management Operations at NDHQ and Joint Force Cyber Component Commander. Since July 2020, Lieutenant-General Allen was appointed to serve as Military Representative of Canada to the NATO Military Committee in Belgium.
Lieutenant-General Allen is a graduate of Queen's University, the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College and Canadian Forces College National Security Program. She holds a Masters' Degree in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College and has been invested as a Commander of the Order of Military Merit.
BGen Greg Smith, MSM, CD, DGIE
Director General Intelligence Enterprise,
Department of National Defence
Brigadier-General Greg Smith is an Infantry Officer has served in each of the battalions of the Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) at Platoon and Company level. He was Commanding Officer of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment, Commandant of the Canadian Army Command and Staff College, and Director of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps. He served as well as Canada’s National Military Representative and Commander Formation Europe and Assistant Chief of Staff J5 at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium.
BGen Smith's staff appointments include serving at the Infantry School, the Army Headquarters, in the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, and the Defence Renewal Team. His operational deployments include in UNPROFOR in Croatia in 1994-95 as a platoon commander, in Kabul in 2003-04 as Battalion Group Operations Officer, in Kandahar in 2009-10 as a Task Force Commander, in Kabul in 2012 as the Deputy Training Mission Commander, and as Chief of Staff of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command—Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in Baghdad, Iraq in 2016.
Brigadier-General P.C. Sabourin, CD
Director General Information Capabilities and Force Development
Brigadier-General Patrice Sabourin was born in Quebec City and started his career in 1987 at the Royal Military College in St-Jean. His first appointment upon graduation was at 71 Comm Gp in St-Hubert. In 1997, he was posted to Ottawa to become the first Ops O of the National System Management Centre (NSMC) which eventually became the CF Network Operations Centre (CFNOC). His first appointment as a Maj was at the PeopleSoft project and after two years, he returned to work at CFNOC.
In 2005, BGen Sabourin was posted to Winnipeg as the Wing Telecommunications & Information Services Officer (WTISO). Promoted to LCol in 2007, he was posted back to Ottawa as the Technical Services Officer (TSO) for the Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa) (CFSU(O)). In 2009, he was posted to Bagotville as the Wing Logistics and Engineering Officer (WLEO). He then returned to Ottawa (for the third time) and worked at the Air Staff in new Directorate of Air Domain Development (DADD). Promoted to Colonel in 2014 he was appointed the Director of Cyber Force Development and appointed as Commander Canadian Forces Information Operations Group (CFIOG). Promoted to his current rank in June 2018, he was appointed the Director General Information Management Operations. BGen Sabourin is currently the Director General Information Capabilities and Forces Development.
BGen Sabourin was the CO of the Canadian Forces Station Alert from January to July 2005. He also deployed 1 year at ISAF HQ as a Planning Officer for the Stability Division. He has a Master’s Degree in Science from Institut national de recherche scientifique and one in Defence Studies from RMC. He is also a graduate from the Joint Command and Staff Program in Toronto.
He has three children and tries to maintain a healthy lifestyle by cycling and running.
Sylvain Cyr
Director General, Land and Aerospace Equipment Procurement and Support, Public Services and Procurement Canada
Sylvain Cyr’s organization leads a large number of defence procurement and in-service support contracts mostly for the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Army, as well as for other federal departments and agencies requiring similar products and services.
Mr. Cyr has more than 25 years of experience in the field of procurement with the Federal Government, including leading organizations responsible for military and information and communication technology procurement.
Mr. Cyr has previously worked at the Canada Border Services Agency and at Environment Canada where his organization was responsible for construction projects and property management activities across Canada. He also has prior experience with Natural Resources Canada, Justice Canada and with the Privy Council Office in various roles in the field of procurement and information technology.
Mr. Cyr obtained a Bachelor in Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) from École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989.
MGen (Ret) Steve Noonan
CMM, MSC, CD - CFN Consultants
Steve joined CFN Consultants after 36 years of service as a Combat Engineer officer in the CAF. At the time of his retirement, he was serving as the Deputy Cmdr of the newly formed CJOC, which is responsible for planning and executing all international and domestic military operations.
Steve served as Cmdr, Joint Task Force Afghanistan, from August 2005 - March 2006 where he was responsible for the effective transition from stabilization operations in Kabul to combat operations in Kandahar. His command assignments culminated as Cmdr CANOSCOM where he developed expertise in logistics, communications, engineering and signals support to deployed operations. He has served in senior staff positions, including the COO (J3) for the CEFCOM where he was responsible for coordinating day-to-day tactical level activities for all operations conducted outside of North America.
Steve gained significant expertise in defining joint and army requirements while serving as the CO of the Canadian Forces Warfare Centre. His appointment as the Director General Information Management Operations provided him with significant insights into the newly emerging Cyber Warfare domain.
At CFN, Steve supports clients in understanding and successfully pursuing Canadian Army/Special Operating Forces equipment procurement opportunities as well as utilizing his expertise in understanding joint requirements, particularly with respect to C4ISR and cyber systems.
Eric Fournier
Director General, Innovation, IDEaS
Eric is presently the Director General, Innovation for the Assistant Deputy Minister (Science & Technology). He is a Scientific Advisor to the Department of National Defence and to the Canadian Armed Forces. His role is to ensure that the Canadian Armed Forces/Department of National Defence (CAF/DND) have access to the most cutting-edge solutions for their challenges from Canadian Innovators.
Eric began his career with Defence Research & Development Canada (DRDC) as a Defence Scientist and held a number of positions in the Weapons field of study there. In 2014, he took up the position of Defence R&D Counsellor at CDLS (London). Upon returning to Canada in July 2017, he was appointed DG Innovation, and also selected to develop and lead the implementation of the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) initiative.
David Perry
President & Senior Analyst, Canadian Global Affairs Institute
Dr. David Perry is the Vice President, Senior Analyst and a Fellow with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. He is the author of multiple publications related to defence budgeting, transformation and procurement, published with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, Conference of Defence Associations Institute, Defence Studies, Comparative Strategy, International Journal, and Journal of Military and Strategic Studies and is a columnist for the Canadian Naval Review. He received his PhD in political science from Carleton University where his dissertation examined the link between defence budgeting and defence procurement. He is an adjunct professor at the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary and a research fellow of the Centre for the Study of Security and Development at Dalhousie University. He was previously the Senior Security and Defence Analyst of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute and Deputy Director of Dalhousie University’s Centre for Foreign Policy Studies.
Christiana Cavazzoni joined Canada’s federal government in 2009, after spending a number of years in the telecommunication and surveillance industry with Nortel and MacDonald Dettwiler. In her current role, she provides leadership and support in the delivery and execution of the Defence IM/IT Programme, including enhancing the integration and interoperability of defence capabilities, as well as the alignment of strategies in support of defence priorities, including Strong, Secure, Engaged. In addition, Christiana supports the CAF/DND in advancing and implementing digital transformation and innovation across business lines. As a senior executive with a background in Technology and Business Transformations, her experience in digital and business strategy development and implementation spans both private and public sectors.
Chip Downing
Senior Market Development Director, Aerospace and Defense, Real-Time Innovations (RTI)
Mr. Chip Downing manages RTI’s global aerospace and defense business and helps drive the RTI Connext product, now used in over 1,700 global systems, into the commercial and military aerospace market. In addition, Mr. Downing currently serves as Chair of the FACE Consortium Business Working Group Outreach Subcommittee, promoting the FACE approach globally.
A luminary of the embedded systems industry and an innovator for creating COTS safety certification evidence for commercial RTOSs, he previously served as Senior Director of Aerospace & Defense at Wind River Systems, where he was responsible for the business development of the company’s global A&D markets. During his 13-year Wind River tenure, design wins for certified avionics products grew to more than 500 projects. Mr. Downing has also led sales, marketing, and consulting organizations at Esterel Technologies (now Ansys), Validated Software, OnCore Systems, and Mentor Graphics (now Siemens).
William E. Marion II
Managing Director, Growth and Strategy, Defense/Intel Portfolio, Accenture Federal Services
William E. Marion William (Bill) E. Marion II leads Growth and Strategy in the Defence and Intelligence practice of Accenture Federal Services. In this role, Marion provides strategic insight and perspective on information technology (IT) innovation initiatives. He helps Accenture Federal Services’ clients develop and execute technology transformation and mission-support strategies that are designed to deter, deflect and defeat evolving threats. A seasoned executive with a track record of innovation, Marion helps bring new technologies that drive DoD and intelligence community transformation across mission operations, from cloud and mobile to artificial intelligence.
Prior to joining Accenture Federal Services, Marion served as U.S. Air Force Deputy Chief Information Officer (CIO). In this capacity, he oversaw the Air Force’s IT portfolio, including the investment strategy—from networks to cloud computing, enterprise policies, information resources management, IT innovation initiatives, information assurance and related matters. He led two business divisions (300 people) and supported 54,000 cyber personnel globally, with an operating budget valued at $17 billion. During his years with the Air Force, Marion held various headquarters, major command, centre, group, and squadron assignments, often interacting with national intelligence agencies.
Marcel Lachance
Executive Vice-President, Professional Services Security, ADGA Group Consultants Inc.
Marcel Lachance has over 30 years of experience in the development of business transformation solutions and strategies in North America and Europe. His experience includes business planning and business transformation, IM/IT strategy, cloud solutions and project delivery leadership leading to a successful record of accomplishment in the public and private sectors, domestically and internationally. Marcel has held leadership positions at global consultancies Acumen Solutions, Capgemini Ernst & Young, and Deloitte Consulting where he led successful solutions and strategy implementation. In 2003, he founded Rainmakers Consulting and Mindshare Consulting – companies focused in the delivery of government business transformation, partnership models, IM/IT and cloud solutions. He has also held CEO positions for start ups and incubators focused on Information Services and Cloud Solutions in the US and Canada.
Marcel holds both a Bachelor and Masters of Mathematics, and a Masters in Business Administration.
Jonathan Alboum
CTO & Principal Digital Strategist, Federal Government, USA,
ServiceNow
Jonathan works with Federal agencies to deliver digital workflows that create great experiences and unlock productivity. Before joining ServiceNow, Jonathan was the Public Sector CTO for Veritas Technologies. In addition, Jonathan has held a variety of senior executive positions in the Federal Government. His Federal Government tenure includes serving as the CIO for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he led the development of USDA’s IT Modernization strategy, including Cloud computing, network modernization, and enhanced information security protections for a $3 billion annual technology spend. In addition, he served as a leader in USDA’s Acquisition community, supporting the oversight, assessment, and strategic planning of an acquisition portfolio of more than 70,000 awards, worth $6 billion annually.
Jonathan also worked at GSA as the Associate CIO for Enterprise Governance and Planning and led the creation of GSA's consolidated IT organization. He began his Federal Government career at the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), where he served as Deputy CIO and CIO. Before government, Jonathan worked as a management consultant for both Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Ventera Corporation.
COL Tobin Magsig
Commander US Army Joint Modernization Command
Col Toby Magsig was commissioned in the Infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1996. Since that time, he has served in many positions in the 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiments, and in 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Also, as the Aide de Camp for the Task Force Falcon Commanding General in Kosovo and commanded G Troop, 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment (BRT) and HHC, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment in 2nd BDE, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany. Subsequently, he served as the Battalion Adjutant, Assistant S3 and A Company Commander in 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
Following completion of CGSC, he served as the LNO, S3 and XO in 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. He was moved later to the 75th Ranger Regiment HQ, where he served as the Senior LNO and Regimental S3. After leaving Fort Benning, he commanded 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry (Airborne) at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and commanded a Special Operations Advisory Group where he mentored and trained Afghan Special Operations Forces. Other roles included commanding of 1st BCT, 82nd Airborne Division from 2017-2019, Executive Officer to the Commanding General, US Army Forces Command and commanding of the Joint Modernization Command, Fort Bliss, TX.
Col Magsig’s operational experience includes a deployment to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guard, three deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and nine deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Col. Jason M. Brown,
USAF (Retired), Professional Services Manager, Google
Jason leads a cloud program management and technical support team responsible for delivering Google products and services to U.S. public sector customers, including the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Postal Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Intelligence Community. Jason previously served 26 years as an Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Air Force. While serving, he commanded several large organizations, established several Air Force wide innovation initiatives, led a national mission initiative at the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, and founded the Air Force Artificial Intelligence Accelerator at MIT.
Kate Maxwell
Chief Technology Officer, Defense & Intelligence, Microsoft
Kate Maxwell is the Chief Technology Officer for Defense & Intelligence in Microsoft’s Worldwide Public Sector. Kate is an accomplished technology leader and strategist with almost 20 years of experience supporting Defense & Intelligence customers around the globe.
Kate is an internationally recognized expert in digital transformation, unmanned systems, and innovation leadership, and is an accomplished and sought-after public speaker, author, and innovator with multiple patent filings, publications and conference proceedings both domestically and abroad. She is a Digital Transformation Council member for the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). Named to the 100 Women in Tech Leaders to Watch in 2022 (WomenTech Network and Chief in Tech). Named #40 of the Top 100 Global Women in Tech in 2021 (Technology Magazine).
Prior to joining Microsoft, Kate held various technical and engineering leadership roles within Raytheon Intelligence & Space, including Technical Director of the Navigation & Modernization Solutions product line, Chief Engineer of the Product Support business, and Founding Director of the Raytheon Innovation Center.
Maxwell holds a Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering from George Mason University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.
Derek Dobson
Defence and Federal Public Safety Leader, Microsoft Canada
Derek leads the Microsoft’s team serving Canadian Defence and Public Safety clients in the Federal Government. Derek has spent 29 years in the industry both in uniform and as a consultant. He served in the British and Canadian Armies for 23 years in a variety of operational and strategic roles. He has led multinational and interagency teams that conducted counter terrorism, public order, framework policing and high impact arrest operations in several countries. He has led the whole of government response to multiple emergencies and disasters at the national level and was the Commander of Her Majesty the Queen’s Royal Guard in the UK. Derek has spent 6 years as aconsultant focused on transformation execution supporting defence, policing, intelligence and border service agencies on their digital journeys.
VAdm Ron Lloyd (Ret’d)
Strategic Advisor, Accenture, Health and Public Sector
A native of Taber, Alberta, Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd (Ret’d) was the 35th Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy from 2016-2019. During this time, he was also “double hatted” as the acting Vice Chief of the Defence Staff for almost half a year and as the first Chief Data Officer for the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces for a full year. During his 38-year career in the RCN, he had the privileged to command HMCS Charlottetown, HMCS Algonquin, the PACIFIC Fleet and the ATLANTIC fleet. He has extensive operational experience having deployed on numerous occasions globally.
He also served at National Defence Headquarters as the Deputy Commander of the RCN, the Chief of Force Development for the Canadian Armed Forces, the Director General of Force Development for the RCN and Executive Assistant to the Commander of the RCN.
Dave Anderson
Strategic Advisor, Digital / Chief of Combat Systems Integration (CCSI), Canadian Armed Forces
Dave is a retired BGen who served in the CAF from 1980 to 2020, spanning eight years as a reservist in the Canadian Grenadier Guards, and 32 years in Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Dave started his Regular Force career in 2 PPCLI as a platoon commander. He was fortunate enough to command companies in 3 PPCLI as well as in the Royal Green Jackets in the UK, was the CO of 1 PPCLI from 2006-2008, and was the Commander of 1 CMBG from 2012-2014.
Staff postings of note include G3 LFCA, COS LFWA, and from 2014-2016 he was the Chief of Defence Staff Liaison Office to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon in Washington DC. His operational experience includes deployment to Cyprus as a Duty Officer in the Joint Operations Center, Company Commander in Bosnia with the Royal Green Jackets, and on a second tour with 3 PPCLI. He was the Chief of Staff of Task Force Afghanistan in 2005-2006 in Kabul and Kandahar, and in 2016-2017, he deployed to Iraq as the Director of the Ministerial Liaison Team and as CJ7 of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. On his return from Iraq he was appointed Chief of Staff Readiness at the Canadian Joint Operations Command.
Denis Couillard
Director of Solutions Development at Ultra Communications
Denis received his B. Eng. in Electrical Engineering and his Master in Technology Management from École Polytechnique de Montréal, Canada. He has 35 years’ experience in the telecom industry where he helped imagine and launch several new radio communication technologies and products, working in Systems Engineering and on Products Innovation for several years.
Denis authored a book on strategic technology management and holds two US Patents on Electronic Attack and Protection. Ultra Communications is responsible for designing deploying thousands of early cognitive radios in South-Korea and is known in North America as the designer of the GRC-245 HCLOS and GRC-262 ORION radios, the terrestrial backbone of US and Canadian Forces in the field. Ultra’s ORION radio technology is also being leveraged for the US Navy ATCS program.
Col Martin Houle, CD
Commanding Officer Canadian Joint Warfare Center
Col Houle, was promoted to his current rank and took command of the Canadian Joint Warfare Center in Ottawa in July 2020.
Previously, Col Houle was promoted to Major in 2008, and was posted to the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM) in Ottawa, where he held the positions of J7 Mission Preparation and Executive Assistant to Deputy Commander CEFCOM. Transferred for a second time to 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Valcartier in 2011, he held the positions of Operations Officer, Deputy Commanding Officer and Acting Commanding Officer.
Promoted to LCol in 2013, Col Houle took command of 2 Wing Expeditionary Readiness Center in Bagotville. In 2014, he was in command of more than 450 members of the RCAF as Air Task Forces Commander during Exercise RIMPAC. Upon his return from RIMPAC, he was posted to the Defence Renewal Team at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, where he held the Organizational Practice and Contract Manager roles for Defence Renewal.
In 2016, Col Houle took upon the A7 duties at 1 Wing Headquarters in Kingston, Ontario. In May 2018, he took command of the 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in St-Hubert, Québec. During this assignment, Col Houle deployed as the tactical aviation detachment CO to stand up the new NATO mission in Iraq.
Robert MacKenzie
Technical Director SMD C2 BMC2 Chief Technologist, Raytheon Missiles and Defense
Robert is a Principal Engineering Fellow, supporting the Space and Missile Defense, Command and Control Product Area (SMD C2), as Technical Director and is the Raytheon Missiles and Defense Chief Technologist for Battle Management Command and Control. He additionally provides strategic technology guidance to Raytheon Solipsys, a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies.
As the SMD Technical Director, MacKenzie is responsible for assessing and directing C2 Product Area technical strategy, to drive investments targeting capability development to address international and domestic capture activities. He also serves as the RMD C2 technical representative for Product Line Exportability, supporting LO/CLO-Tri-Service committee releasability discussions.
Prior to his role as SMD TD, he served as the Raytheon Solipsys Chief Technology Officer, providing oversight to C2 Product Line technical planning as well as IR&D planning and execution. MacKenzie is a member of AIAA and co/holder of US Patent #6338011, Method and apparatus for sharing vehicle telemetry data among a plurality of users over a communications network.
Steve Pope
Country Director, Systemat
Steve obtained his B. Eng in Electrical Engineering from the Royal Military College, Kingston and his Master’s degree in Military Arts and Science from the Command and General Staff College, Ft Leavenworth, Texas.
Steve served for 25 years as a Signals Officer in the Canadian Army, including critical leadership roles in Army C4ISR programs. After extensive experience in the defence industry in key business development roles, Steve joined Systematic as the Country Lead in 2018. Systematic is a world leader in defence C4ISR software, currently providing core capabilities for more than 40 nations , including all other FVEY Member Nations.
Brigadier Dan J Cheesman
CBE Royal Marines, Chief Technology Officer, Royal Navy
Brig Cheesman CBE Royal Marines is the Royal Navy’s inaugural Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Assigned by the Navy Board as a Strategic tech change agent in an exponential world, he has a remit to accelerate all forms of technology to all areas of the Royal Navy, an £8Bn+ global business undergoing significant transformation and expansion. Focus areas include Digital, Autonomy, Modularity, Lethality and Corporate-scale Agility.
Earlier career highlights have included Commanding Officer 45 Commando Group Royal Marines and Chief of Staff HQ 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Dan has worked across the UK MOD in Policy, Plans, Intelligence, Counter-Terrorism, Logistics, Communications and with Special Forces. For Rifle Company Command in Sangin, Afghanistan he was honoured with being made MBE. For services as the RN CTO, in Her Majesty’s New Years Honours List 2022 he was promoted to CBE.
Victor Khoo
Chief Engineer, General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada
Victor was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. His career has spanned many industries and experiences — from Oil & Gas, SCADA and Telecom to designing cell phones, international airport audio systems, and cryptographic algorithms. Now based in Calgary, for the past 16 years Victor has worked at General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada where he is currently the Chief Engineer of Land C4ISR Programs proudly delivering solutions to the Canadian Army.
Victor holds an Engineering degree from the University of Alberta, graduate certifications from McGill and the Stevens Institute of Technology, and recently graduated from the Telfer School of Management with a Master of Business in Complex Project Leadership.
Cmdre Kelly E. Williams (Ret’d)
Senior Director, Strategy and Government Relations
General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada
Kelly Williams joined General Dynamics Mission Systems - Canada as Senior Director Strategy and Government Relations in September 2012. He brings to General Dynamics extensive operational experience gained from over 36 years of service, including two extended Persian Gulf deployments. Additionally, Kelly served with the U.S. Navy and as the Canadian Defence Advisor to the Canadian High Commissioner in the United Kingdom.
Kelly’s operational expertise is complemented by significant experience at the National Defence Headquarters Ottawa focused on strategy, policy and capability development. He has served as assistant chief of Maritime Staff as well as the director of maritime strategy, where he was responsible for future maritime force development and was a principle contributor to the development of maritime security elements of Canada's National Security Policy. In 2005 Kelly was seconded to chief of the defence staff to assist in the development of the new Defence Policy Statement. As a result of his work there, Kelly was appointed director of general strategy and charged with the strategic guidance and coordination for the Canadian Forces and the development of the Canada First Defence Strategy.
LtCol Lars Espeland
SSO International Cooperation, Programme Mime and MAST, Norwegian Defence Material Agency
LtCol Espeland has been a Senior Staff Officer International Cooperation and Innovation in the Programme Organisation Mime and MAST/ Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) since 2020.
Mime and MAST are two business programmes within the Norwegian Defence sector covering tactical CIS and the military use of cloud technology. These two programmes are essential parts of the Norwegian Armed Forces digital transformation. The Norwegian Armed Forces goal is to be value oriented with a focus on operational effect, which leads to use of more agile methods that bring user and developer closer together.
• Started in the Norwegian Army 1996
• Graduated from Army Signals NCO School 1997
• Graduated from the Military Academy 2001
• Various positions within Signal Battalion/Brigade North (assistant S3, 2iC Signal company) 2004-2009
• Signal Platoon commander Armoured Battalion/Brigade North 2006
• Instructor Army School of Signals 2009-2011
• Assistant G6 FSK (NOR Army Special Operations Command (NORASOC)) 2011-2013
• Staff officer CIS projects Army Staff 2013-2019
Deployments Afghanistan:
• 2iC Signal Platoon/BG3/KMNB Kabul 2005
• Signal platoon commander/QRF/RC N Mazar-e-Sharif 2007
• S6 NORASOC TF Kabul 2012 + 2013
Kevin W. Brooks
Principal Digital Strategist, U.S. Department of Defense and Intel Community, ServiceNow
Kevin is a seasoned professional with more than 28 years as a military and Federal leader of organizations and teams who builds large-scale transformation initiatives. He has a proven track record of leveraging his skills to implement people and process solutions that increase satisfaction and drive growth. During his career he has served increasing levels of responsibility while leading and developing high performing teams of cross functional experts in challenge environments.
Kevin’s Federal experience includes: Assistant Deputy Secretary, Force Support Integration (HAF), Division Chief, Policy and Publication (USAF), Chief, Policy and Publication (USAF), Manpower Branch Chief (NATO), 2x Squadron Commander, Deployed Director of Manpower and Personnel (J-1), and Congressional Liaison Officer.