Presented By
Re-Imagining a Strategic Defence Innovation Engagement Model
Powering Recent Investments Toward Improved C4ISR Outcomes
Commander Canadian Joint Forces Command
Senior Advisor, Accenture
Editor in Chief, Vanguard Media
Director of Digital and Army Combat Systems Integration
Principal, Bowline Insight and Analysis, Inc.
Associate, CFN Consultants
Commanding Officer, Canadian Joint Warfare Centre
Chief of Staff Army Strategy
Chief Executive Officer, Dominion Dynamics
Chief Executive Officer, Anvil Intelligence Inc.
Director, C5ISRT, General Dynamics Mission Systems
Chief of Staff, Digital Services Group
Assistant Professor, Canadian Forces College
Director RCAF Digital Hub, Canadian Armed Forces
Head, Joint Uncrewed Systems (UxS) Office, Chief of Combat Systems Integration (CCSI)
Copyright ©2026 Vanguard Canada Media
Terri Pavelic
Editor in Chief, Vanguard Media
Lieutenant-General Michael Rouleau (Ret’d)
Senior Advisor, Accenture
Lieutenant-General Rouleau was a soldier for 34 years, joining as a Gunner in 1985. After a tour in 5 Brigade, he served from 1989-1992 with the 4th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in West Germany, deploying twice to the nascent conflict in the Balkans, first in 1991 as a European Community Monitor and in 1992 with the inaugural UN deployment with the 1 R22eR Battle-Group in Sarajevo.
LGen Rouleau joined Joint Task Force (JTF) 2 in 1994 and after one year of training, commanded an assault troop and sabre squadron until 1999 when he retired and joined the Ottawa City Police for three plus years as an emergency response officer. Owing to the events of 9-11, he re-enrolled and would serve another 20 years in CAF. He commanded JTF 2 and held roles in institutional force development and defence policy before leading Canada’s Special Operations Forces Command from 2014-2018.
Promoted Lieutenant-General in 2018, he commanded Canada’s Joint Operations Command for two years, before becoming the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in 2020. As VCDS, he prioritized four elements; enhancing pan domain C4ISR coherence, data/digital modernization, Supply Chain betterment and next generation PME. He retired on 4 July, 2022.
He earned two Master’s degrees and is a graduate of Harvard’s National and International Security Fellowship (2015) and the US military’s Pinnacle Program (2018). He is a graduate of Canada’s Command and Staff College (2006) and the National Security Program (2010).
He has been a Senior Advisor with Accenture since October 2022 and feels privileged to work with highly motivated professionals in the defence and national security space.
Rear-Admiral Casper Donovan (Ret’d)
Principal, Bowline Insight and Analysis, Inc.
Originally from Montreal, Casper Donovan, served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 35 years. His tours of duty have seen him serve on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, ultimately serving as Commanding Officer of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Vancouver. He deployed around the world on Canadian, Coalition and NATO missions, including to Afghanistan. Promoted to Flag rank in 2016, following an assignment to the Privy Council Office in support of the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, he was charged with playing a lead role in determining what ships and capabilities the Navy needed in the future. Following retirement, he served as the Co-Executive Director for the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference and continues to support Canada’s defence needs through his company, Bowline Insight and Analysis, Inc. He is classically trained French chef and calls Ottawa home.
Colonel Jason (Jay) Estrela
Director of Digital and Army Combat Systems Integration
Colonel Jason (Jay) Estrela joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2004 as a Signals Officer. During their career, they have held commands and key staff appointments within the Joint domain, Canadian Army, and Special Operations Forces including operational deployments to Afghanistan and Romania. They are currently the Director of Digital and Army Combat Systems Integration (DDACSI), responsible for the Army’s Digital Transformation initiatives as part of modernization. They are a graduate of McMaster University, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Royal Military College of Canada
Major-General Colin Keiver (Ret’d)
Associate, CFN Consultants
Major-General (Ret’d) Colin Keiver, MSM, CD, joined CFN Consultants following a distinguished 34-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) culminating in his appointment as the Deputy Commander (Dcomd) of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
A pilot by trade, Colin has commanded at the squadron and wing level in Canada and spent a year as the commander of Joint Task Force Impact in the Middle East, Canada’s largest overseas mission at the time. He has an extensive project background in the Department of National Defence (DND) including serving as Director Air Simulation and Training where he stood up the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Project, Director Defence Program Coordination in the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Group of DND and as Director General Air and Space Force Development in the RCAF. Through these appointments, Colin was heavily involved in the implementation of Strong, Secure and Engaged and was a principal architect of NORAD Modernization; the RCAF Strategy; RCAF Digitalization, and he contributed significantly to CAF efforts in developing multi-domain capabilities.
Colin has a broad background across the defence and security portfolio that includes working closely with allies, partners, and industry at home and abroad. This includes a three-year exchange tour with the United States Marine Corps and delivering the RCAF Global Engagement program as the DComd RCAF.
Colin holds a BA in Political Science and History from the University of Manitoba and a Masters in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada. Colin is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, UK, as well as being a graduate of the General/Flag Officer and Ambassador Course at the NATO Defence College in Rome, Italy.
Colin very much looks forward to contributing to the betterment of Canadian defence and security in his role with CFN Consultants.
Colonel Derek Lay
Commanding Officer, Canadian Joint Warfare Centre
Colonel Derek Lay is an Air Operations Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), he commissioned as an aerospace engineering officer. His early career was spent in a variety of tactical- and operational-level command and staff positions in the tactical aviation community, including tours at 427 and 408 Squadrons, 1 Wing Headquarters, 1 Canadian Air Division, and the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM).
A series of operationally-focused assignments followed, including tours as the Deputy Commanding Officer for the newly reactivated 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, readiness and joint capability development assignments at the Canadian Joint Operations Command, and digital transformation leadership for the Chief of Combat Systems Integration. In 2021, Colonel Lay formalized the transition to operations, becoming one of the first officers transferred to the new RCAF Air Operations Officer occupation. Notable assignments since include command of Air Task Force – IMPACT in 2022, leadership of the DND/CAF contribution to the Haiti interdepartmental working group in 2023 (Operation HELIOS), and his current assignment as the Director of Domestic and Western Hemisphere Operations at the Canadian Joint Operations Command from 2023 to 2025.
Brigadier-General Stéphane Masson
Chief of Staff Army Strategy
Brigadier-General Stéphane Masson military career began in 1991 when he joined the Canadian Forces as a reservist with the 6e Régiment d’artillerie de Campagne in Quebec City. In 2003, he transitioned to the Regular Force.
Throughout his career, Brigadier-General Masson held various command positions, starting as a Major in 2008 when he took command of Q Battery within the 5e Régiment d’artillerie légère du Canada at CFB Valcartier. In 2012, as a Lieutenant-Colonel, he served as Commandant of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery School at CFB Gagetown. Later on, he was assigned to key roles at the Canadian Joint Operation Command Headquarters and as Commander of Canadian Forces Base Kingston. Most recently, he commanded the 5th Canadian Division – the Army’s Mighty Maroon Machine. He assumed the role of Chief of Staff Army Strategy the summer of 2024. Brigadier-General Masson now holds the honour of being the Senior Serving Gunner within the Canadian Army.
Brigadier-General Masson also had operational experience abroad, serving in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Afghanistan, and Egypt, as well as participating in several domestic response operations.
His educational background includes graduation from the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College, the Joint Command and Staff Program, and the National Security Program. He holds a Bachelor of Science, a Masters in Defence Studies, and a Master in Public Administration.
Outside of his military duties, Brigadier-General Masson enjoys spending time with his supporting wife and three children. His hobbies include exercise, playing the guitar, reading, and traveling.
Eliot Pence
Chief Executive Officer, Dominion Dynamics
Eliot Pence is a builder of frontier defense and industrial companies and the founder of Dominion Dynamics, focused on sovereign capability in aerospace, autonomy, and command-and-control. From 2018–2022, he helped scale Anduril Industries globally as one of its earliest business development hires, creating its international go-to-market strategy and building teams across three continents. He previously served as Chief Business Officer at Osmo and Cambium Biomaterials, and as a senior director at McLarty Associates. He is from Victoria, BC and is a graduate of University of Victoria.
Lieutenant-General Darcy Molstad
Commander Canadian Joint Forces Command
Lieutenant-General 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.
After a tour with 433 Tactical Fighter Squadron in Bagotville, Québec, he was selected for an exchange with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in Beaufort, South Carolina serving with the 312th and 122nd Marine Fighter Attack squadrons. Other line and command appointments include: Deputy Commanding Officer of 410 Tactical Fighter (Operational Training) Squadron, Commanding Officer 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Commanding Officer 3 Wing / Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, and Deputy Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command. He was appointed to his current post as the inaugural Commander of the Canadian Joint Forces Command in 2025.
His operational experience includes extensive post 9/11 NORAD alert duties across Canada, a six-month rotation in the Western Pacific while attached to the USMC (2007), deployments as Air Task Force Commander for NATO air policing missions in Iceland (2012), Romania (2014), and in Hawaii for Canada's largest expeditionary Air Force contribution to a RIMPAC exercise (2016). Most recently, he served as the US Air Forces Central Command Combined Air and Space Operations Center Director in Al Udeid, Qatar, responsible for coalition air operations in the Middle East, Arabian Gulf, and Central Asia (2022).
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, and Chief of Force Development.
Lieutenant-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.
Before joining the CAF, he competed in pole vaulting at the national level and holds two junior national titles. He is married to an exceptional health professional and is the proud father to two extraordinary adult children. In his spare time, he acts as an Honourary Coach of the Montréal Alouette Football Club and is the Co-Patron for the CAF Triathlon Team.
Samuel Witherspoon
Chief Executive Officer, Anvil Intelligence Inc.
Samuel Witherspoon is the CEO of ANVIL Intelligence Inc., a Canadian defence-technology company focused on delivering data-driven decision advantage to military and national security organizations. With a background spanning intelligence, engineering, and product leadership, he has built ANVIL to solve real operational problems through practical, deployable software. He is driven by a commitment to building technology that matters—tools that strengthen decision-making, reduce friction, and support those operating in high-stakes environments. ANVIL has been working with Defence and National Security organizations for nearly a decade.
Victor Khoo
Director, C5ISRT, General Dynamics Mission Systems
Victor Khoo is the Director of C5ISRT Programs at General Dynamics Mission Systems – Canada, providing strategic and technical leadership across the company’s C5ISRT portfolio.
With more than 20 years of experience across the defence, telecommunications, cyber, and energy sectors, Victor focuses on translating complex technology into operationally relevant capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces. He is a strong advocate for DEVOPS-driven approaches that bring users and industry closer together, leveraging experimentation and rapid iteration to incorporate meaningful user feedback and accelerate mission impact.
Major-General Cayle Oberwarth
Chief of Staff, Digital Services Group
Major-General Oberwarth joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1994 after graduating from the Royal Military College and commissioning into The Royal Canadian Regiment. He served with the Second and Third Battalions, deploying to the former Yugoslavia, East Africa, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. His key staff roles include Canadian Army HQ Business Planner, Director General Operations at Strategic Joint Staff, and Deputy Commanding General – Operations with the U.S. Army’s I Corps. He commanded the Infantry School, Combat Training Centre, and 4th Canadian Division. On 29 August 2025, he assumed duties as Chief of Staff – Digital Services Group and CAF J6.
Dr Rebecca Jensen
Assistant Professor, Canadian Forces College
Dr Rebecca Jensen is an assistant professor at the Canadian Forces College, where she teaches courses related to operational art, military operations, and military strategy at the Joint Command and Staff Programme and the National Security Programme. She is currently a visiting researcher at the Royal Danish Defence College, studying the theory and practice of operational art and multi-domain operations in the context of a small state. Prior to joining the Canadian Forces College in 2020, she was a Fulbright Visiting Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University’s School for Advanced International Studies, a Pre-Doctoral Fellow at the George Washington University’s Elliot School of International Affairs, a Dissertation Fellow at Marine Corps University, and an Adjunct Analyst at the RAND Corporation. Her current research interests include operational art, large scale combat operations in the 21st century, military change and innovation, and institutional adaptation and learning. Dr Jensen was an academic advisor at the Security Assistance Group – Ukraine (SAG-U) from January to July of 2023, studying these subjects in practice.
Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda Whalen
Director RCAF Digital Hub, Canadian Armed Forces
Amanda Whalen is a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force and Director of the RCAF Digital Hub. A pilot by trade, with an Aerospace Engineering degree, she forayed into digital innovation after identifying inefficiencies in Air Mobility logistics. In 2019, she led the development of Dispatch, a cloud-based app that transformed mission execution at 8 Wing Trenton. Her passion for digital transformation grew as she built and scaled DevOps teams, navigated security and contracting processes, and expanded the RCAF’s digital portfolio. Amanda now spearheads efforts to digitalize the RCAF, leveraging Cloud, agile development and cross-functional collaboration to deliver impactful, user-driven solutions. Her career reflects a unique blend of operational military experience and cutting-edge digital leadership.
Lieutenant-Colonel Nicolas Verreault
Head, Joint Uncrewed Systems (UxS) Office,
Chief of Combat Systems Integration (CCSI)
LCol Nicolas Verreault—an Ottawa native, aerospace engineer, and RMC-trained mechanical engineering graduate—has spent more than two decades at the forefront of Canada’s most demanding operational and technological missions. Since joining the CAF in 2002, he has been employed on multiple deployed operations and devoted 15 years to Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, serving across a wide arc of influence: as a Force Development project officer, troop commander, Operations Officer, and ultimately as the director of special requirements for UAS and C-UAS.
Today, as Head of the Joint Uncrewed Systems Office, he leads the CAF’s enterprise, driving transformation in joint uncrewed systems domains of air, ground, surface and underwater (UAS, UGV, USV, UUV). A career built at the junction of engineering precision and SOF urgency, focused on unconventional problem solving and the relentless delivery of leading edge capabilities for the CAF.