Chief of Defence Staff
Deputy Minister of Defence on Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalisation, Ukraine
Senior Advisor, Accenture
Managing Director, Accenture Federal Services
Special Operations and Mission Command Integration, Accenture Federal Services
Director General Capability and Structure Integration, Chief of Force Development
Chief of Combat Systems Integration
Defence and Federal Public Safety Leader, Microsoft Canada
Strategic Advisor, Accenture, Health and Public Sector
Deputy Chief Information Officer of Canada
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Assistant Chief of the Air Force Staff
Senior Manager, Capture Management at General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada
Director General Plans
Deputy Commander, Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
Director General Information Management Operations and Joint Force Cyber Component Commander
Deputy Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command
VP Digitization & Counter Threat Products, KWESST Inc
Deputy Commander, NORAD
Director General, Air and Space Force Development
Head, ISR, Land, Maritime Section, Defence Investment Division, NATO HQ
Editor in Chief, Vanguard
Technical Director, Digital and Mission Solutions, Raytheon
Lead, Artificial Intelligence
Enabled Targeting, 18th
Airborne Corps
Copyright ©2022 Vanguard Canada Media
BGen (Ret'd) Chris Ayotte
OMM, MSM, CD
BGen (Ret'd) Chris Ayotte, OMM, MSM, CD, was raised in Ottawa and enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1992. He completed his training as a Military Engineer in 1997 and was privileged to serve in many of the Army’s engineer regiments.
Chris was the Commanding Officer of Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team, business planner for the Canadian Army, Director of Cadets at the Royal Military College of Canada, Director of Strategic Communications for the Global Counter-ISIS Coalition, and the Director General of Army Force Development. He also initiated and guided the development of the Army’s digital transformation strategy and advocated for the adoption of non-conventional approaches to address a rapidly changing security environment to build the digital army for tomorrow through innovation, experimentation, and iterative capability development.
He has a bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering from the Royal Military College in Kingston, a Master of Arts in Policy and Strategy from the University of New South Wales in Australia and is a graduate of the National Security Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto.
Upon retirement in July 2022, Chris started a consulting business with a focus on national security. In addition to being a fellow with CGAI, he is on the Board of Directors of Reticle Ventures Canada and the Board of Governors at the Robert Land Academy.
Brigadier-General Jeannot Boucher, OMM, MSM, CD
Director General Capability and Structure Integration, Chief of Force Development
BGen Jeannot Boucher joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1992. He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Kingston in 1997 and obtained his pilot wings one year later. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 2010, he furthered his education at the United States Air Force Air Command and Staff College in Alabama, remaining for an additional two years on faculty as a member of the Department on International Security Studies. His Command appointments include Commander of the 430e Escadron tactique d’hélicoptères (2013-15), Commander of 1 Wing (2016-18), Interim Commander 1st Canadian Division (2018-2020) and Commander of Task Force Jerusalem (OP PROTEUS -2020-21). He is currently Director General Capability Structure and Integration under the Chief of Force Development.
BGen Boucher has accumulated over 3000 flying hours in his career. He has a bachelor’s degree in Politics and Economics from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Kingston, a Masters in Warfare Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Kingston, a Masters in Operational Art and Science from USAF Air University and is a graduate of the Air War College Distance Learning Program.
Rear-Admiral Jeff Zwick, CMM, CD
Chief of Combat Systems Integration
RAdm Jeffery Zwick was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1989 as a Direct Entry Officer, having previously received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of British Columbia. RAdm Zwick has had the opportunity to sail extensively throughout his career with operational deployments in the Indo-Pacific Region, the North Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. He was the Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific (2015-2018) including OPERATION PROJECTION in the Southeast and Northeast Asia.
RAdm Zwick has served 6 tours within National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, as a Director within the Naval Staff (2005-2007); as the Director Strategic Coordination within the Chief of Force Development (2010-2011); as the Director Defence Force Planning within the Chief of Programme (2012-2014); as the Defence Programme Advisor to the Vice Chief of Defence Staff (2014-2015); as the Chief of Force Development (2018-2020); and he was appointed to his current position as the Chief of Combat Systems Integration in 2020, leading the integration of emerging technologies to enable Canadian Armed Forces operational success in the 21st century.
RAdm Zwick is a graduate of the National Security Programme at Canadian Forces Command and Staff College (2012) and has completed a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies at the Royal Military College of Canada (2003). He is also a fellow of the US GOFO Pinnacle Program (2021) and is an alumni of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (2016). He was invested as an Officer of the Order of Military Merit in 2015 and promoted within the Order to the Rank of Commander in 2021.
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 30 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.
General Wayne Eyre, CMM, MSC, CD
Chief of the Defence Staff
Gen Eyre grew up on a farm near Wadena, Saskatchewan, spending his high school years in Medicine Hat, Alberta. He joined Army Cadets at age 12 and has been in uniform ever since. Gen Eyre attended Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) Victoria and Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Kingston. Upon commissioning in 1988 he joined Second Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, and has had the great privilege of spending the majority of his career in command or deputy command positions. He became Commander Canadian Army on 20 August 2019 and was appointed as Acting Chief of the Defence Staff on 24 February 2021. General Eyre was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff on 25 November 2021.
Gen Eyre was also the first non-U.S. Deputy Commander of United Nations Command Korea in its 69-year history, and as such is the most senior Canadian officer ever permanently stationed in the Asia Pacific region.
As a staff officer, Gen Eyre has served with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Land Force Western Area Headquarters, in the Directorate of Defence Analysis at NDHQ, and as the J3 of Canadian Expeditionary Force Command. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Special Forces Qualification Course, the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the U.S. Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting, and the U.S. Army War College. He holds a Bachelor of Science and three Masters Degrees (Military Studies, Operational Studies and Strategic Studies). His decorations include the Order of Military Merit in the rank of Commander, the Meritorious Service Cross, the Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation, the Chief of Defence Staff Commendation, the Order of National Security Merit from South Korea and was three times awarded the U.S. Legion of Merit, including at the rank of Commander.
Paul N. Wagner
Deputy Chief Information Officer of Canada
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Paul N. Wagner was named Deputy Chief Information Officer of Canada on October 5, 2022, and continues to lead the Strategy and Transformation team within the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) of Canada. In this role, he takes on responsibilities relating to horizontal strategy and planning management for the Government of Canada’s Digital Portfolio and additional accountabilities in representing Digital priorities globally for Canada. Paul brings 3 decades of private and public sector experience in Information and Digital Technologies to the executive table.
Paul has served as Chief Information Officer for Justice Canada, Library and Archives Canada and the National Research Council of Canada. He has overseen operations and innovations in the areas of digital service delivery, information technology, information and data management and partnership management.
A pioneer and supporter of enterprise systems for government, Paul joined Shared Services Canada at inception and led the creation of the first enterprise Partnership Management function for technology in the Government of Canada.
With over 20 years experience in the Canadian Federal Public Service, Paul has held executive leadership roles since 2004. Paul remains very active in the national and international councils and boards related to technology and data management.
Paul holds a B.A. with a major in Economics from McGill University and an MBA from the University of Ottawa's Executive MBA program.
Major-General Colin Keiver, MSM, CD
Assistant Chief of the Air Force Staff
MGen Keiver was born and raised on a fourth-generation family farm in Alberta. Bit by the aviation bug at an early age, he was very active in Air Cadets where he not only obtained his glider’s license but also met his future wife who was the first in the family to obtain a pilot’s license.
Colin joined the RCAF in 1991 and was awarded his pilot wings in 1994, beginning his long relationship with the C130 Hercules aircraft. His final flight in a C130 was on 12 July 2017 as he finished his tour as the 8 Wing Commander, Trenton. He spent two years on the Air Staff in Ottawa as Director Air Simulation and Training and a year as Director of Defence Programme Coordination in NDHQ.
Promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General in Apr 2018, he was honoured to command Joint Task Force Impact. BGen Keiver was appointed Director General Air Force Development in July 2019, where he saw the addition of the space procurement portfolio to his responsibility. He made modernization of RCAF C4ISR and cyber competencies a key goal during his tenure. He was promoted to his current rank and assumed the roles and responsibilities of the Deputy Commander Royal Canadian Air Force in May 2021.
MGen Keiver has a BA in Political Science, a Masters in Defence Studies concurrent with completing the Joint Command and Staff Program and is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, UK.
Austin Douglas
Senior Manager, Capture Management at General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada
A 20-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, Austin Douglas is a natural leader with a passion for collaboration, cultural diversity, and fresh thinking. He has had numerous operational deployments both domestically and internationally with tours in Bosnia, Croatia, Afghanistan, and many other countries. He has led and commanded Canadian and multinational sub-units and organizations in domestic, peace support, and combat operations. His military experience provides an inside perspective for his work in the defence industry over the past decade.
In his current role as Senior Manager, Capture Management at General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada, Austin provides an expert understanding of Government of Canada procurement policies and governance, from project identification to project close-out. He is responsible for leading and contributing to the organization’s Canadian capture strategy, building short-term and long-term growth engagement plans for all sustainment and capital projects in the Land and Joint Solutions line of business. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Austin attended Canada’s Royal Military College and holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School.
Brigadier-General John Errington, OMM, MSM, CD
Director General Plans
BGen John Errington joined the Canadian Forces directly from high school in 1990 from Courtenay, British Columbia, and subsequently commissioned into the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). Following his promotion to LCol, he was appointed as the Special Operations Task Force Commander in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2010–2011, earning the Meritorious Service Medal. He assumed command of 3 PPCLI in June of 2012 and held the appointment until after the Regiment’s 100th Anniversary Ottawa Commemoration in September 2014. As a Colonel, he commanded the Combat Training Centre in Gagetown from July 2017–July 2019 when he was promoted to Brigadier-General. BGen Errington is proud and humbled to have had the opportunity to command twice at the platoon, company, and unit levels in various Light, Airborne, and Special Force units.
BGen Errington held a variety of staff jobs within the Battalion. However, he has predominantly been employed in current operations from the rank of Capt to BGen (Brigade G3 Operations (Ops), J35 in Canadian Expeditionary Force Command, DHTC Ops O/COS, CA G33, Director current Ops at Strategic Joint Staff and Chief of Staff Ops for the CA).
Brigadier-General Steve Hunter, OMM, MSC, MSM, CD
Deputy Commander Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
BGen Steven Hunter joined the Canadian Forces Reserve in 1993 and was subsequently commissioned as an Artillery Officer. He transferred to the Regular Force in 1997, joining the 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (2 RCHA) in Petawawa. In 1999, BGen Hunter deployed to Kosovo with the 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment where he was employed as a Battalion Liaison Officer.
BGen Hunter was promoted to Major in 2008 and, after serving as JTF 2’s Chief Instructor, he was appointed as a SABRE Squadron Commander. In 2009 BGen Hunter returned to Afghanistan to Command a Special Operations Task Force.
In 2013, he was promoted to LCol and was posted to the Canadian Army Headquarters as the Army G35 Plans. Between 2014-2017, BGen Hunter Commanded the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) in Petawawa, Ontario. During this period, he deployed 3 times as a Task Force Commander for a Special Operations Task Force in Iraq.
In 2018, after attending second language training, he was promoted to Colonel and posted to CANSOFCOM HQ as Director Special Operations. In 2020, BGen Hunter attended the National Security Program (NSP) and upon completion was promoted to his current rank, assuming the duties of Deputy Commander CANSOFCOM.
BGen Hunter holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Sociology from Carleton University in Ottawa and a Master of Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada. He is a graduate of the US Combined Joint Forces Special Operations Component Commanders Course.
Brigadier-General Dave Yarker, CD
Director General Information Management Operations and Joint Force Cyber Component Commander
BGen Dave Yarker joined the Canadian Forces in 1989, graduating from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Kingston in 1993. Following completion of Graduate studies and Signals officer Training in 1996 he served with 2 Bde as a Signals Officer in both 427 Tactical Helicopter Squadron and 2 Combat Engineer Regiment.
He has been employed as staff in project management, joint, operational, and strategic communications planning and deployed as the Canadian J6 to both Kosovo and Afghanistan. He has had the honour of command at 2 Canadian Mechanised Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron, the Canadian Forces Network Operations Centre, and the Canadian Forces Information Operations Group.
Since 2010, he has had the good fortune to have been employed in the cyber operations field, commanding at Unit and Formation levels as well as holding key staff and liaison positions including with United States Cyber Command and Canada’s Communications Security Establishment.
On promotion to his current rank, he was appointed as Director General Information Management Operations and the Joint Force Cyber Component Commander.
He holds undergraduate degrees in Engineering Physics and History, along with master’s degrees in Engineering Physics and Defence Studies.
Major-General Darcy Molstad, CD
Deputy Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command
MGen Darcy Molstad was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta joining the Canadian Armed Forces in December 1996 through the direct entry program after completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Alberta. He earned his pilot’s wings in 1999 as a Golden Centenaire graduate and completed his operational training on the CF188 “Hornet” in 2000.
His most recent operational experience was serving as the US Air Forces Central Command Combined Air and Space Operations Center Director in Al Udeid, Qatar, responsible for planning, executing, commanding, controlling, and assessing coalition air operations in the Middle East, Arabian Gulf, and Central Asia.
His staff experience includes tours as the Officer Commanding 1 Canadian Air Division Fighter Standards and Evaluation Team, Senior Staff Officer in charge of Northern Employment and Western Hemisphere Engagement Strategy at Canada Command, Air Force Adviser to the United Kingdom in London, Defence Attaché to Iceland, Special Adviser to the Minister of National Defence, and two Director General positions at the Strategic Joint Staff responsible for Military Strategic Assessments, Strategies, Effects, and Readiness portfolios.
Major-General Molstad is a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Programme at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto and the USAF Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base Montgomery, Alabama. He holds a master’s degree in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada and a master’s degree in Strategic Studies (with distinction) from the Air University in the United States. He is a Fighter Weapons Instructor and highly experienced pilot with over 2,200 hours logged on the CF188.
Rick Bowes
VP Digitization & Counter Threat Products, KWESST Inc
Prior to his various senior roles with defence contractors such as General Dynamics Canada, DRS Technologies Canada (now Leonardo DRS), ATCO Frontec and ADGA Group Inc., Rick had a distinguished career as a senior officer in the Canadian Army, retiring in 2003 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He is a graduate of Royal Military College of Canada and served in various operational and staff roles in the Canadian military and on secondment to the British Army. As an armour officer, Rick served with various units such as Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) and the Canadian Airborne Regiment Battle Group across Canada and in deployed operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina with the UN Protection Force and the NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR). Rick was also part of the planning team for Canada’s participation in the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission in 1999.
LGen Alain Pelletier, CMM, MSC, MSM, CD
Deputy Commander, NORAD
LGen Alain Pelletier is the Deputy Commander North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, CO.
In 1978, LGen Alain Pelletier joined the Air Cadets unit of La Pocatière, Québec where he earned his glider and private pilot license.
LGen Pelletier joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1983 as a student pilot. After graduating from Royal Military College of Kingston where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, he proceeded with pilot training and received his wings in 1989. He was then selected to fly the CF-18 fighter aircraft.
LGen Pelletier has had a number of assignments at the strategic level as the Executive Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, and to the Chief of Air Staff; as section head for air requirements for fighters and trainers, as the Director of Air Requirements, and as Chief Fighter Capability Program in National Defence Headquarters.
He also was the Deputy Commander Continental U.S. NORAD Region based at Tyndall AFB, Florida, where he was responsible for the Continental U.S. daily air defense readiness in addition to the defense of the U.S. National Capital Region.
In 2016 he deployed in support of U.S. Air Force Central (AFCENT) Command as the Combined Air Operations Center Director.
LGen Pelletier was appointed Commander 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region in 2019. In July 2020 he assumed his role as Deputy Commander NORAD.
LGen Pelletier is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Air War College, receiving a Master of Strategic Studies. He is also a graduate of the Canadian Fighter Weapons Instructor Course (FWIC) with over 3,000 hours of flying time, of which over 2,500 hours are in the CF-18.
BGen Chris McKenna, OMM, MSC, MSM, CD
Director General, Air and Space Force Development
Brigadier-General (BGen) McKenna was born in Montreal, Quebec and joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1994. He received a degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering, from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1999.
BGen McKenna earned his RCAF pilot wings in 2002 and has commanded at the Flight, Squadron, Wing and Task Force level.
BGen McKenna has served in a variety of staff positions including postings in the RCAF HQ and in the Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) HQ.
In 2018/2019, he was deployed as the Commander of Canada’s Air Task Force in Mali as part of Operation PRESENCE, Canada’s contribution to Peace Support Operations in Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
From 2014 to 2016, BGen McKenna commanded 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, fielding and operationalizing the RCAF’s newest fleet of 15 CH147F helicopters. He then served as the Director of Air Plans in the RCAF HQ from 2017 to 2020. BGen McKenna Commanded 1 Wing, Canada’s Tactical Aviation Wing, from July 2020 to May 2021. He was appointed as the Director General Air and Space Force Development upon promotion to Brigadier-General in 2021.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada.
BGen McKenna has been inducted as an Officer of the Order of Military Merit (OMM) and has been awarded the Meritorious Service Cross (MSC), the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), as well as the Medal of Merit, in Bronze, from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Greg Ivey, CD
Head, ISR, Land, Maritime Section, Defence Investment Division
NATO HQ
Greg Ivey is the Head of JISR, Land and Maritime domains within the Defence Investment Division, NATO Headquarters in Brussels. His specific responsibilities include policy and capability development, support and oversight in the areas of Alliance Joint Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Land and Maritime standardization and interoperability, as well as multinational armaments cooperation and programs. His portfolio includes the “Alliance Future Surveillance and Control programme” capability delivery strategy approved by Heads of State and Government at the 2022 NATO Leaders Summit; the future multi-domain surveillance and control capability beyond the current NATO E3 AWACS. He serves on NATO’s Digital Transformation Task Force whose mandate is to establish a data driven Alliance capable of deciding and acting at both speed and at scale with a view to achieving its political and military objectives.
A former Canadian Army officer with over 25 years of experience in operations and planning, strategic policy development, and military capability development, he served as the Deputy Military Representative of Canada to NATO before retiring. He joined the NATO International Staff in 2020 with the Defence Investment Division.
Greg holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) and a Masters of Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada. He is a graduate of the Government of Canada’s year-long National Security Program.
Oleh Haiduk
Deputy Minister of Defence on Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalisation, Ukraine
Educational Background: In 1982-1989 was studying at the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University majoring Chemistry of natural products. In 2003 graduated from Odessa National Academy of Telecommunications majoring Telecommunications. In 1994-1995 was studying at the US Federal Emergency Management Agency majoring National Incident Management System.
In 1993-1996 worked as a chief specialist, head of sector, Deputy Head of the Department of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Created Governmental Information and Analysis System on Emergency Situations.
In 1996-2000 held office of Deputy Minister of Ukraine on Emergency Situation and People Protection against Consequences of Chernobyl Disaster. Created Communication and Management System in Emergency Situations, Information Analysis and Crisis Centres of the SES of Ukraine, took a part in creation of operative rescue service of the Ministry, was an initiator of Ukraine’s participation in international rescue operations under the auspices of the NATO and the UN.
In 2003 was a head of International Economic Committee, and in 2004 was appointed Deputy Minister of Economy on European Integration of Ukraine. Was responsible for informational and analytical, and scientific support of the Ministry, took a part in developing and adoption of many laws and by-laws.
In 2013-2014 held office of Director on information and analysis of NAEK Enerhoatom.
For the past 7 years have been doing business in the sphere of telecommunication and software. Was a member of civil council of the National Commission for the State Regulation of Communications and Information, State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine, Ministry of Digital Transformation, was promoting cyber security issue from the KiberKovcheh community.
Since 2020 — Senior Lecturer of the Chair of Informational Technologies and Cyber Security of the Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics.
Since 2021 — the Head of the Information and Cyber Security Council of Ukraine created by the Memorandum of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, SSSCIP and MoDT.
On December 31, 2021 was appointed Deputy Minister of Defence on Digital Development, Digital transformation and Digitalisation.
Terri Pavelic
Editor in Chief, Vanguard
Coming soon
Karen Casey
Technical Director, Digital and Mission Solutions, Raytheon
Karen Casey is the Technical Director for the Digital and Mission Solutions (DMS) business area located in Aurora, CO. Prior to that, she was the Chief Engineer for the Future Operational Resilient Ground Evolution Mission Data Processor Framework; an open, modular framework that hosts applications for Overhead Persistent Infrared satellite data processing. Her other recent positions include Mission Systems Engineer and Lead Systems Engineer and Program Manager.
Ms. Casey is a Certified Level IV Program Manager, and Raytheon Six Sigma Expert and in 2015, she was promoted to Technical Engineering Fellow, a distinguished honor held by only a small percentage of senior technical staff at Raytheon Technologies. She has served as an advisory board member for the Computer Science Department at Montana State University, and for the University of Colorado at Denver. She has authored several papers advancing the science of Discrete Mathematics and User Interface design: Use of Combinatorial Matrix Theory for Satellite Payload Optimization, Survey of Mission Management Scheduling Algorithms, Analogical Reasoning, Use of Heuristics, Bin Packing and Worth Scoring Techniques.
She is the recipient of several awards including the Society of Women Engineers, Raytheon Peak Performer Award, Raytheon Science and Technology Award, and the President’s Award for Mission Understanding. In 2022 she was Raytheon’s Colorado Girls in Science Mentor.
Ms. Casey has a Master of Science degree in Engineering and Mathematics from the University of Colorado at Denver as well as a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a Minor in Counseling from Metropolitan State University.
LGen Mike Rouleau (Ret’d)
Senior Advisor, Accenture
Mike joined the military in 1985, serving as an artillery officer in Quebec and West Germany between 1986-1992 before landing in a newly-created JTF 2 in 1994. With a brief respite as a City Of Ottawa police officer (99-02), Mike went on to spend the majority of his career either in JTF 2/CANSOF or in institutional staff positions where he learned how capabilities were developed (DLR and CFD), how policy was made (ADM(Pol)), how hard transformation activities were (CDS’ CAF Transformation, 2004) or how demanding senior leadership was (EA CCA). This imbued him with the criticality of a ‘broadened range of military experiences’ as one progresses to more senior posts.
Mike commanded CANSOFCOM for four plus years and Joint Operations Command for two years thereafter prior to becoming VCDS in 2020. He served five tours to Afghanistan, the Balkans and Middle East, among other deployments.
Retiring in summer 2022, Mike’s re-calibrated life centers on family, friends, the outdoors and fitness; making up for the many years where those essentials were crowded out by the demands placed on those who serve. In October 2022, Mike began working as a Senior Advisor at Accenture, owing to the fit with his career-long commitment to innovative change improving operational outcomes. His 34 years of service to Canada will always be a great source of pride in a life well spent.
Lt Gen Mary Legere (Ret’d)
Managing Director, Accenture Federal Services
Joining Accenture Federal Services in October 2016, Mary brings 34 years of experience leading intelligence, security and cyber organizations, including directing the Army’s enterprise of 58,000 intelligence professionals, commanding the Army’s 17,000-person global Intelligence Command, and serving as the Senior Military Intelligence Officer in Iraq and the Republic of Korea.
As the G2, she drove the development and execution of the U.S Army’s multi-billion-dollar Strategic Plan, expanded the Army’s Cyber forces, modernized the Army’s Aerial and Ground ISR fleets, and drove the effort to improve the Army’s global intelligence information architecture, including setting conditions for Army migration into the U.S. Intelligence Community Cloud. With extensive experience in multinational and interagency operations, she served as an advisor to US allies in NATO, the Pacific and the Middle East as they built-out of future-focused intelligence organizations and capabilities for their services.
Today, in addition to bringing the best of Accenture to Defense and National Security clients, she serves as the Chairperson of the National Military Intelligence Foundation, and an advisor to several intelligence and cyber organizations. An active advocate for continued innovation, she was awarded the 2108 Women in Technology Award for Excellence, the AFCEA Gol Shield of St. Isidore Award for distinguished service to national security and the cyberspace community and 2022 Most Influential People in Security.
Legere holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Mass Communication from the University of New Hampshire (UNH), Masters’ Degrees in Military and National Strategy from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and U.S. Army War College and an honorary Doctorate of Letters from UNH. She is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal for exemplary service to the Intelligence Community. She also received the Order of National Security Merit Chonsu Medal for contributions to the Republic of Korea and United States of America Alliance.
John Burnham
Special Operations and Mission Command Integration, Accenture Federal Services
John Burnham serves as Strategy and Mission Command Integration lead for Accenture Federal Services’ (AFS) National Security portfolio, serving our clients in the U.S. Special Operations and Intelligence Communities.
Before joining AFS in 2017 he was a naval officer serving in Naval Special Warfare for 28 years at tactical, operational and command levels, deploying around the world. After retiring from active duty in 2014 he was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and served for three years in the Obama administration.
His military assignments included two deployments as a Surface Warfare Officer onboard USS MARVIN SHIELDS (FF-1066); tactical and operational leadership tours at SEAL Team TWO, Naval Special Warfare Development Group, and Joint Special Operations Command; command of SEAL Team FOUR; command of Joint Special Operations Task Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq; and command of Joint Interagency Task Force-National Capital Region.
John is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, holds an MBA from the College of William & Mary, and is a Distinguished Graduate of the National War College.
Col Joseph O’Callaghan
Lead, Artificial Intelligence Enabled Targeting, 18th Airborne Corps
Coming soon