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The Vanguard Podcast

Welcome to the Vanguard Podcast, a weekly radio show discussing news, trends, and event coverage for the Canadian Defence Industry. Vanguard is Canada’s oldest trade journal of record that provides a forum for Canada’s security and defence community, discussing strategic perspectives and overviews of government and military policy and practice, through interviews with leading practitioners and contributions from renowned experts, including representatives from industry. Intersecting strategy, technology and policy, Vanguard explores emerging trends and best practices to help enhance Canada’s holistic approach to defence and security, both domestically and internationally.
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Now displaying: Page 1
May 30, 2023

Join us for another insightful episode of Vanguard Radio. J. Richard Jones speaks with Philippe Perey, Head of Technology, CAE.

CAE is at the leading edge of digital immersion, providing solutions to make the world a safer place. Today and tomorrow, CAE is the partner of choice for customers who operate in a complex, highly dynamic, and largely unpredictable environment where safety, mission readiness and successful outcomes are critical.

The topic of conversation pits innovation against experience in modern military training.

In this episode:

  • What are the key issues driving the need for updated training?
  • What are the critical enablers to transform training?
  • What innovation is CAE working on?
  • And much more!
May 29, 2023

Welcome back to another episode of Vanguard Radio with host J. Richard Jones. In this episode, we speak with Theo Zafirakos, CISO Coach and Professional Services, Security Awareness Speaker for Fortra's Terranova Security. Theo is an experienced security leader and trusted advisor known for his expertise in security awareness strategy, governance, privacy, and cyber security. He collaborates with CISOs and security leaders globally, assisting them in identifying, evaluating, and managing security awareness risks. Prior to joining Terranova Security, Theo spent two decades at Canadian National Railway (CN) as the CISO, where he was responsible for the information security and governance strategy. He currently leads the Fortra's Terranova Security Professional Services team, which focuses on implementing and executing security awareness programs to achieve measurable results.

Terranova Security is a valuable addition to Fortra's comprehensive cybersecurity portfolio, which aims to simplify the complex landscape with innovative solutions. Their risk-based campaigns and high-quality training content empower employees to understand critical practices like phishing and compliance. Customized options align with customer goals, strengthening long-term information security. Terranova fosters an inclusive workplace with equal gender representation and encourages diverse voices to drive innovative security awareness training.

Today’s conversation zeros in on the fact that a successful security awareness program should generate a security-aware organizational culture.

In this episode:

  • Why should your organization build a Security-Aware Culture?
  • How to Spot a Security-Aware Cultural Shift in a Business?
  • Why leaders need to understand employee cyber security awareness levels
  • Why your organization should be concerned about Third-Party Risk Management
  • And much more!
May 25, 2023

J. Richard Jones returns with a new episode of Vanguard Radio. This week he is speaking with Colonel (Ret’d) Rick Fawcett, Vice President Operations, ADGA Group Consultants Inc. Mr. Fawcett is no stranger to the show. With 34 years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces, he transitioned to executive roles in the Defense industry and joined ADGA in September 2020. He held various command and staff positions, served in multiple UN and NATO missions, and received notable honors. After retiring in 2013, he established a private consulting firm and later became the Director of Business Development at General Dynamics Canada, focusing on defense and security markets.

Founded in 1967, ADGA Group Consultants Inc. is a Canadian company specializing in Advanced Technology Solutions. They work closely with clients in Defence, Security, and Public Safety markets to solve complex business problems by designing, building, operating, and maintaining their systems and processes. ADGA is committed to initiatives and policies that contribute to jobs, innovation, and economic growth across Canada. In December 2021, ADGA was acquired by Commissionaires Ottawa, enhancing its capabilities to provide a full spectrum of security solutions.

This week the discussion revolves around industry support to the reconstitution and modernization of the Canadian Armed Forces.

In this episode:

  • Why is there such a need for additional support for the CAF?

  • What industry can do to support

  • What is PMO as a service?

  • How can ADGA support?

  • And much more!

Apr 26, 2023

J. Richard Jones is back with another episode of Vanguard Radio. This week he speaks with Owen Brine, Sales Director Defence (Canada) at Kongsberg Digital. In his role at Kongsberg Digital, Owen draws upon a distinguished 20 years of active naval service; including four NATO deployments conducting operations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Among other Navy roles, he was assigned to National Defence Headquarters where he led the defence Human Systems Integration team in the design of the Combat Management System for the Halifax Class warship.

Kongsberg Digital is the provider of the K-Sim maritime simulation system that enables efficient and realistic training of students and crew, building vital skills that promote safety, cost-efficiency, and sustainability in operations at sea.

Also in this episode:

  • What public sector experience does DXC bring to Canada?
  • How can DXC help the Government of Canada?
  • Turning Data into Insights & Actions
  • Managing and protecting data as a strategic asset
  • And more!
Apr 18, 2023

In this episode of the Vanguard podcast, J. Richard Jones is joined by Simon Carroll, President, Saab Canada, and Jason Howard, Saab CPSP Campaign Director. Simon Carroll leads the Canadian Saab teams in Ottawa, Halifax, Medicine Hat, and Burnaby. A former Officer in the Royal Australian Navy, he has many decades of experience in the defence and naval sectors. Jason Howard has 20 years of experience in the defence industry, where he has held positions in business development, strategy, and marketing and sales. Jason has spent the last 5 years working in Saab's naval division, Saab Kockums, where he has now taken responsibility for the company's Canadian Patrol Submarine Project campaign.

The conversation dives into a range of topics from Saab’s collaborative approach and the importance of future proofing submarines to Saab’s history with Canada and submarine development.

Also in this episode:

  • Why are new Submarines important for Canada?
  • What is Saab's history with submarine development?
  • How has Sweden maintained a successful submarine program?
  • What makes Saab's approach to submarine development unique?
  • And more!

And to learn more about Saab, visit Saab.ca

Apr 14, 2023

Join host, J. Richard Jones, as he talks to Victor Khoo, Chief Engineer, General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada and Alkarim Amlani, Director of Cyber Programs, General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada. Victor’s career has spanned many industries and experiences — from Oil & Gas, SCADA and Telecom to designing cell phones, international airport audio systems, and cryptographic algorithms. He has been with General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada for the past 16 years. Alkarim has over 30 years of engineering and senior leadership experience with both Nortel Networks and General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada, having joined the latter in 2002. Alkarim has profit and loss oversight for General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada’s growing Cyber business unit. This responsibility includes the delivery of existing cyber programs to Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) while providing oversight and leadership around various business development and opportunity pursuits related to emerging cyber operations programs in Canada and select international markets. 

General Dynamics Mission Systems - Canada is one of Canada’s most established defence and security technology companies, delivering solutions and tools that are battlefield proven and have earned the confidence of soldiers and leaders worldwide.

In this episode:

  • How the technical challenges of army digitization are progressing

  • Land C4ISR Modernization Programs

  • key considerations when bringing CAF infrastructure to the cloud

  • Making the CAF’s Digital Strategy a reality

  • And more!

Mar 5, 2023

In the latest episode of Vanguard Weekly, join host J. Richard Jones for the first of an ongoing series that will discuss the topic of training and upskilling using capstones. He is joined by guests Caleb Walker, Chief Strategy Officer for WithYouWithMe and Major General (Retired) Rupert Jones. Caleb is a 20-year combat veteran with a passion for HR and digital transformation as well as cultural change, and a frequent guest of the show. Rupert is a retired senior British Army officer, who served as the Standing Joint Force Commander from November 2018 to July 2021. Together, they tackle the questions of how to measure the returns on staff training and how to determine what value was gained.

Also in this episode:

  • What are capstones, how are they used, and how can they help?
  • How to determine if someone has the skills you need?
  • Mission rehearsal exercise as practical demonstration of skills
  • Capstones as inspiration for solving other problems
  • Attracting and retaining the right talent
  • Driving training to build capability
  • Capstones and the need for digital training
  • The CV test versus the capstone opportunity
Jan 24, 2023

Today, host J. Richard Jones is joined by Rick Fawcett, Vice President, Operations ADGA. Richard is retired Colonel who served 34 years in the Canadian Armed Forces before taking on executive roles in the defence industry and joining the ADGA team in September 2020. Founded in 1967, ADGA Group Consultants Inc. is a privately owned and operated Canadian company specializing in Advanced Technology Solutions. In December 2021, ADGA was acquired by Commissionaires Ottawa, converging its capabilities with allied companies to provide a one-stop, full spectrum of cyber, electronic, and physical security solutions. ADGA is also committed to initiatives and policies that contribute to jobs, innovation, and economic growth across Canada. Vanguard asks Rick to explain what and how ADGA delivers for Canada.

Also in this episode:

  • What is ADGA's social mandate?
  • Why is the social mandate important to ADGA and how did it come about?
  • What differentiates ADGA from other companies?
  • How does the social mandate help ADGA when it comes to contracts, both present and future?
  • What does ADGA do for veterans?
  • What should veterans and people leaving the military know about ADGA?
Jan 23, 2023

How can digitization be used to provide a tactical edge? That’s the question we answer in the latest episode of the Vanguard Podcast. Host J. Richard Jones sits down with Rick Bowes, Vice-President Digitization & Counter-Threat Products, KWESST Inc. to discuss C4ISR and first contact. 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. Since retiring from the military, Rick has held various senior roles with defence contractors such as General Dynamics Canada, DRS Technologies Canada (now Leonardo DRS), ATCO Frontec, and ADGA Group Inc. KWESST develops and commercializes proprietary next-generation technologies that deliver a tactical advantage for military, security forces, and personal defence.

In this episode:

  • What are the key challenges affecting Land C4ISR development today?
  • What is KWESST doing differently?
  • What does modularity and flexibility mean for KWESST?
  • What were the lessons learned for KWESST in developing a dynamic fires capability for the US Marins Corps?
  • What does the Internet of Things mean for the battlefield?
  • How does KWESST evolve its C4ISR offerings into the Public Safety and Critical Incident Management market?
  • And more!
Jan 17, 2023

Welcome back to a brand-new episode of Vanguard radio with host J. Richard Jones. In this episode we speak about simulation training with two very special guests who come at the topic from two different areas. Anita Pawluk is the President of RaceRocks 3D and Cathy Press is the CEO of Chinook Helicopters. Since co-founding RaceRocks in 2010 Anita has led the company to be recognized as a leading high-tech firm delivering Technology Enabled Learning (TEL) and digital training solutions to the defence and aerospace industries. Cathy is the first female helicopter flight instructor in Canada, and she has grown the family business from two helicopters to an internationally recognized flight school. Both women are very accomplished entrepreneurs who are highly involved in their communities. In the discussion, the three explore what is currently available in terms of simulation training technology, its accessibility, and what the present challenges are in the field. They also discuss what the future holds and what benefits are on the near horizon.

Also in this episode:

  • What are the benefits of immersive simulation training technologies for learners?
  • What are the benefits for organizations?
  • How is simulation training being used today?
  • What is the cost?
  • Where is the future of simulation training taking us? Will it get better? Will it become the norm?
  • Why should organizations make the investment?
  • And much more!
Jan 17, 2023

Welcome back to a brand-new episode of Vanguard radio with host J. Richard Jones. In this episode we speak about simulation training with two very special guests who come at the topic from two different areas. Anita Pawluk is the President of RaceRocks 3D and Cathy Press is the CEO of Chinook Helicopters. Since co-founding RaceRocks in 2010 Anita has led the company to be recognized as a leading high-tech firm delivering Technology Enabled Learning (TEL) and digital training solutions to the defence and aerospace industries. Cathy is the first female helicopter flight instructor in Canada, and she has grown the family business from two helicopters to an internationally recognized flight school. Both women are very accomplished entrepreneurs who are highly involved in their communities. In the discussion, the three explore what is currently available in terms of simulation training technology, its accessibility, and what the present challenges are in the field. They also discuss what the future holds and what benefits are on the near horizon.

Also in this episode:

  • What are the benefits of immersive simulation training technologies for learners?
  • What are the benefits for organizations?
  • How is simulation training being used today?
  • What is the cost?
  • Where is the future of simulation training taking us? Will it get better? Will it become the norm?
  • Why should organizations make the investment?
  • And much more!
Oct 31, 2022

Recently the Chief of the Defence Staff issued a direction to begin the reconstitution of the CAF. This undertaking is being implemented on a large scale and is now considered a critical priority. Joining the discussion is Caleb Walker, Chief Strategy Officer from WithYouWithMe. Tune in as they discuss key factors such as modernization, growth, and retention strategies.

In this episode:

  • Retention – Attracting the best and keeping the best
  • Growth – how to grow your staff
  • Modernization – the technology and application required
  • And so much more.
Oct 7, 2022

In this edition of Vanguard Weekly, J. Richard Jones chats about citizen development and how technology applications are enabling scalable solutions to help citizens. Joining the show are special guests Brian Macdonald, Executive Director with Aman Lara and Caleb Walker, SVP Global Pursuits at WithYouWithMe.

Aman Lara is a not for profit group of former veterans and volunteers helping "good people get out of bad places." They have had tremendous results, first in Afghanistan and now in Ukraine. Tune in to learn about the unique collaboration between WithYouWithMe and Aman Lara. We also explore the special app that has been developed to provide greater accessibility in helping extract people from dangerous places, all the way from the tracking and processing through to the final immigration stage.

In this episode:

  • The collaboration between Aman Lara and WithYouWithMe
  • The technology app and how it works while working with small budgets
  • Making the complex simple - getting through the process and bureaucracy
  • The challenges of working with technology and people
  • And so much more
Sep 26, 2022

In the latest episode of Vanguard Radio, J. Richard Jones is joined by Duncan McSporran, Chief Operations Officer & VP Defence and Public Sector, Kognitiv Spark. Mr. McSporran is a former military officer with a background in applied remote sensing, cartography, and GIS. He is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Oxford Brookes University. In 2016, he helped to set up Kognitiv Spark which has grown into a global leader in the field of Augmented and Mixed Reality. His conversation with J. Richard Jones provides a brief over of Mixed Reality and its role in future deployments.

Also in this episode:

  • Learn the difference between Mixed Reality and Virtual Reality
  • Why this distinction is important
  • What is RemoteSpark?
  • How Mixed Reality is being implemented by defence clients
  • How secure is Mixed Reality technology?
  • How will the use of Mixed Reality evolve over the next 5 to 10 years?
Aug 29, 2022

In this episode of Vanguard Weekly, J. Richard Jones catches up with Chief Strategy Officer, Caleb Walker from WithYouWithMe (WYWM). The topic of discussion is a new digital software factory for the Canadian Armed Forces by the WYWM team and how this new project will assist in driving digital solutions and innovation that remove silos and help increase connectivity across the enterprise.

 

Canada joins other allies who are embracing digital solutions to help streamline processes across the enterprise to help realize efficiencies when it comes to supporting defence teams. Do you have an idea on how to improve processes? Looking to participate in a design sprint?

 

Tune in to find out how you can submit your ideas to the software factory.

Aug 8, 2022

Join J. Richard Jones for the latest episode of Vanguard Radio as he dives into the weighty topic of digitization with Victor Khoo, Chief Engineer, General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada and Infantry Officer Austin Douglas (Ret’d), Capture Manager, General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada. Army digitization presents many serious technical challenges and today’s conversation revolves around how TNaaS can solve these for the Canadian Armed Forces.

In this episode:

  • Digitization conversion vs. digitization transformation
  • Faster, better, stronger with technology
  • Embracing technology and reducing complexity
  • Digitization of land, sea, and air domains
  • Data Consolidation, Data Distribution, and Data Contextualization
  • Is the US also aligned with the TNaaS concept?
  • C4ISR is the Tactical Communications Modernization Project
  • Need for common system engineering
  • And so much more…
Jun 27, 2022

Join J. Richard Jones for another informative episode of Vanguard Radio. In this episode he speaks with Joseph McBrearty, President and CEO, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. CNL is Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization, and a world leader in developing nuclear technology for peaceful and innovative applications. With their unique expertise, they are restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technology, and making medical breakthroughs that improve the health of people around the world.

In this episode:

  • Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and CNL’s role
  • Challenges to the adoption of nuclear technology
  • Nuclear technology misconceptions debunked
  • Preparing for climate change impact
  • Steps to Canada’s climate change and energy security ambitions
  • And more!
Jun 27, 2022

Join J. Richard Jones for another informative episode of Vanguard Radio. In this episode he speaks with Joseph McBrearty, President and CEO, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. CNL is Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization, and a world leader in developing nuclear technology for peaceful and innovative applications. With their unique expertise, they are restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technology, and making medical breakthroughs that improve the health of people around the world.

In this episode:

  • Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and CNL’s role
  • Challenges to the adoption of nuclear technology
  • Nuclear technology misconceptions debunked
  • Preparing for climate change impact
  • Steps to Canada’s climate change and energy security ambitions
  • And more!
Jun 15, 2022

Welcome to the concluding episode of our 5-part Digital Natives and Modern Military podcast series. Host, J. Richard Jones wraps up his exciting and enlightening discussion with very special guests General Sir James Everard, former senior British Army Officer, and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for NATO and LTCOL Caleb Walker, Global Vice President of Defence for WithYouWithMe. In the final episode they explore the large and important topic of how to retain digital natives and how to retrain them as necessary.

In this episode:

  • Convincing the gatekeepers
  • Implementing and supporting retention methods
  • Defining career paths and training programs
  • Providing diversity of movement
  • Performance management
  • Mentoring and support networks
  • And much more!
Jun 6, 2022

Welcome back to episode 4 of the Digital Natives and Modern Military podcast series. Joining J. Richard Jones once more are special guests, General Sir James Everard, former senior British Army Officer, and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for NATO and LTCOL Caleb Walker, Global Vice President of Defence for WithYouWithMe. In this episode we explore how the militaries across the five eyes can look to innovation and in particular new engagement channels as a part of the fight to bring digital natives into their ranks.

In this episode:

  • Defence is foreign for digital natives
  • Spectrum engagement
  • The need to build innovation hubs within defence
  • And more!
Jun 2, 2022

In this episode of Vanguard radio, J. Richard Jones talks about Team SkyGuardian Canada, a collection of companies focused on delivering the most advanced long-range, long-endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft for Canada by taking GA-ASI’s industry-leading RPAS – the MQ-9B SkyGuardian – and adding the extraordinary technologies of three established Canadian companies: CAE Canada, L3Harris Technologies’ Canadian subsidiary WESCAM, and MDA. Tune in as J. Richard and special guests: Michel Lalumiere, Director of International Strategic Development-Canada for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc, France Hébert, Vice President and General Manager, Defence & Security (D&S) for CAE Canada, Cameron McKenzie, Vice President, Global Sales and Business Development, for the Wescam Inc., Dr. Minda Suchan, Vice President of GeoIntelligence at MDA, discuss the Team SkyGuardian partnership and how it unites Canadian capabilities with a leading RPAS platform.

In this episode:

  • The RPAS platform for long-term jobs across aerospace, defence and unmanned systems
  • Partnerships with Canadian industry leaders ensure Canadian sovereignty and operations by Canada joining the growing global MQ-9B Group of Operators across sustainment and in the development of leading-edge technology
  • The commitment to Canada by providing an interoperable solution – an interoperable system of systems – to meet Canada’s strategic vision and primary missions in Strong, Secure and Engaged in addition to its Industrial Technological Benefits Policy Requirements
  • And so much more!
Jun 2, 2022

In this episode of Vanguard radio, J. Richard Jones talks about Team SkyGuardian Canada, a collection of companies focused on delivering the most advanced long-range, long-endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft for Canada by taking GA-ASI’s industry-leading RPA – the MQ-9B SkyGuardian – and adding the extraordinary technologies of three established Canadian companies: CAE Canada, L3Harris Technologies’ Canadian subsidiary WESCAM, and MDA. Tune in as J. Richard and special guests: Michel Lalumiere, Director of International Strategic Development-Canada for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc, France Hébert, Vice President and General Manager, Defence & Security (D&S) for CAE Canada, Cameron McKenzie, Vice President, Global Sales and Business Development, for the Wescam Inc., Dr. Minda Suchan, Vice President of GeoIntelligence at MDA, discuss the Team SkyGuardian partnership and how it unites Canadian capabilities with a leading RPA platform.

In this episode:

  • The RPA platform for long-term jobs across aerospace, defence and unmanned systems
  • Partnerships with Canadian industry leaders ensure Canadian sovereignty and operations by Canada joining the growing global MQ-9B Group of Operators across sustainment and in the development of leading-edge technology
  • The commitment to Canada by providing an interoperable solution – an interoperable system of systems – to meet Canada’s strategic vision and primary missions in Strong, Secure and Engaged in addition to its Industrial Technological Benefits Policy Requirements
  • And so much more!
May 25, 2022

Host, J. Richard Jones, speaks with Paul Guindon, CEO, Commissionaires Ottawa and National Business Management Committee Chair. Commissionaires is one of Canada’s leading security solutions providers and the largest private sector employer of veterans. It is founded on the core military values of dedication, responsibility, and sense of mission. It also employs 22,000+ people from coast to coast to coast.

In this episode:

  • Digital fingerprinting
  • Infrastructure
  • Background checks
  • Risk assessment
  • And many other areas of security
May 24, 2022

Join host, J. Richard Jones as he speaks with Chris Pogue, Chief Executive Officer, Thales Canada and Jeff Spencer, Chief Executive Officer, Atreides as they discuss the promise of trust as a catalyst for transformation. It’s been five years the Government of Canada awarded Thales the AJISS (Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship/Joint Support Ship In-Service Support) contract, which includes In-Service Support (ISS), refit, repair, maintenance, and training for the Royal Canadian Navy’s new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) and Joint Support Ships (JSS). This is the largest ISS contract in Canadian history. In the meantime, the need for, and urgency of further accelerating digital transformation has been growing.  

In this episode:

  • What has changed since the AJISS contract was awarded?
  • When and how Thales and Atreides met
  • What they have accomplished together
  • The promise and potential of collaborative innovation between primes and SMBs
  • And much, much more
May 18, 2022

Welcome back! In episode three of our special 5-part podcast series, J. Richard Jones and special guests, General Sir James Everard, former senior British Army Officer, and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for NATO and LTCOL Caleb Walker, Global Vice President of Defence for WithYouWithMe explore the idea of service as it relates to digital natives. Just what are digital natives looking for and how can the military meet that need?

In this episode:

  • Meeting the needs of digital natives
  • Inspired through service
  • Pattern of service or hybrid service - the flexible establishment model
  • The digital future of military
  • And so much more!

Coming soon:

Episode 4: New Engagement Channels: Incorporating Innovation

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