In this episode of Vanguard Radio, host J. Richard Jones sits down with Sheldon Gillis, MSC, CD, CPSP Campaign Lead at Babcock Canada, for a deep and timely conversation about what’s next for Canada’s submarine future—and why sustainment is just as important as the platform itself.
With over 25 years of distinguished service in the Royal Canadian Navy—including command at sea, operational deployments across the globe, leadership roles in the Arctic, and senior oversight of naval requirements—Sheldon brings unparalleled insight into what it takes to deliver a modern, sovereign, and mission-ready submarine capability.
Together, they explore the major developments shaping the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), including the recently announced Teaming Agreement between Babcock Canada and Hanwha Ocean. This landmark partnership positions Babcock as the exclusive In-Service Support partner to Hanwha Ocean, uniting world-class submarine design and build expertise with Canada’s only proven, industry-led submarine sustainment enterprise.
Listeners will hear Sheldon unpack:
· Why sustainment must be integrated from Day One, in parallel with submarine construction
· How Babcock’s 17 years of experience sustaining the Victoria-class fleet will translate into value, readiness, and reliability for CPSP
· The advantages of Hanwha Ocean’s in-service KSS-III submarine—a platform already operating globally
· The long-term regional and economic impact CPSP could deliver across Canada, including jobs, innovation, and STEM development
· What accountability and availability truly mean in designing a future-focused enterprise
· How Babcock’s integrated sustainment approach supports a sovereign, Canadian solution that endures for generations
From operational realities at sea to the industrial partnerships required on land, this is a comprehensive look at how Canada can build not just a submarine fleet—but a lasting national capability.
Whether you’re tracking CPSP, following defence industry developments, or simply interested in how major national projects take shape, this episode offers expert insight into one of the most consequential defence procurements of our time.
Tune in to Vanguard Radio for a deep dive into delivering an all-encompassing and sovereign Canadian sustainment solution.
In this episode of Vanguard Radio, host J. Richard Jones speaks with Chris Lane, Senior Vice President and Area Manager at EllisDon Corporation, about how one of Canada’s leading construction and infrastructure companies is helping to strengthen the nation’s defence readiness.
Chris shares insights from his decade-long leadership journey with EllisDon—from his early days in the UK’s construction sector to overseeing major projects in Canada for clients like the Government of Canada, Defence Construction Canada, and the Department of National Defence. He discusses EllisDon’s unique approach to collaboration, innovation, and long-term value creation—factors that set the company apart in an increasingly complex defence infrastructure landscape.
Together, they explore EllisDon’s role in supporting Canada’s National Defence Strategy, its involvement in projects tied to NORAD modernization and the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), and how agile contract models and integrated project delivery are shaping the future of military infrastructure in Canada.
This conversation highlights how capability, collaboration, and commitment to excellence are driving EllisDon’s contributions to national security and resilience.
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In the latest episode of Vanguard Radio, host J. Richard Jones has the opportunity to chat with Reaghan Sunstrum, Mission Specialist at General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada and Steve Cross, also a Mission Specialist at General Dynamics Missions Systems–Canada. Their conversation revolves around the Canadian Army experience, the Canadian Army in Latvia and Battle Lab.
Reaghan Sunstrum is a Mission Specialist at General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada, and a dedicated Canadian Army Reservist based in Calgary, AB. She has 16 years of service in the Army Reserves as a Signal Operator and currently holds the rank of Master Warrant Officer (MWO). She serves as the Company Sergeant Major (CSM) for 41 Service Battalion, 14 Company. Reaghan earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Mount Royal University, and her leadership and technical expertise continue to make her a valued asset in both her military and civilian roles.
Steve Cross is a Mission Specialist at General Dynamics Missions Systems–Canada and a retired Sergeant supporting the Canadian Armed Forces as a Signal Operator for 16 years. Active in both the Reserve and Regular force during that time, Steve has supported Exercises and deployments both domestically and abroad. With recent experience in Latvia both in uniform and with GD, Steve’s experience helps define new capabilities and carve a way forward for the army.
General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada is one of Canada’s largest and most innovative defence companies, delivering and sustaining capability for Land C5ISR. They provide advanced thinking, design expertise, and implementation know-how to equip the Canadian Armed Forces with leading-edge hardware, software, and systems.
General Dynamics’ DIGITALspine mobilizes digital transformation by connecting every sensor, effector, and decision maker. It enables technological innovation at pace with mission requirements and simplifies forward capability enhancements and configurability based on evolving needs. At the edge of conflict, soldiers can securely tap into new and legacy systems while operating seamlessly with joint, interagency, and allied partners across land, air, sea, and cyber.
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Interview with Cheyenne Wicks, General Manager, Military Sector, J-Squared Technologies
In the latest episode of Vanguard Radio, host J. Richard Jones sits down with Cheyenne Wicks, General Manager, Military Sector, J-Squared Technologies. Mr. Wicks is a seasoned, results-oriented professional with extensive business and technology leadership experience. Formerly holding roles at L3Harris and DRS Technologies, he leads strategic research and development for J-Squared’s military line of business, encompassing R&D, product design and production, maintenance, repair and operations (MRO), and testing specialties. Cheyenne brings more than 30 years of experience with the Royal Canadian Navy and Communications Security Establishment, Government of Canada, and the defence industry. He holds a master’s degree in applied science from the Royal Military College of Canada.
J-Squared is the leading provider of high-performing embedded computing systems and services built to withstand the harshest environments. For more than 30 years, J-Squared has partnered with prime contractors, OEMs, system builders, and end users for mission-critical applications across the military, energy/resources, transportation and commercial edge AI sectors. J-Squared provides cradle to cradle support — with in-house design, environmental testing, deployment, product lifecycle management, maintenance and repair, and support. Land, air, and sea solutions are created to the highest standards, including MIL-SPEC certifications, while software offerings meet today’s exacting AI and ML challenges.
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Interview with David Males, Director of Business Development, SSI
In this week’s episode of Vanguard Radio, host J. Richard Jones sits down with David Males, Director of Business Development, SSI. Mr. Males has 35+ years as a trusted sales and marketing executive in IT & Related Services in the US and Canada. His previous experience serving the industrial manufacturing and infrastructure development (AEC) sectors allows him to bring a practical perspective to help the marine and shipbuilding industry address key challenges surrounding digital transformation, lifecycle management, and the impact of emerging technology on current and future workers.
David is a frequent presenter at marine industry conferences addressing key challenges surrounding business transformation to digital shipbuilding and asset lifecycle management. He has been published in Maritime Technology magazine and chairs the SNAME O-52 Digital Twin Panel that aims to provide guidance to assist industry in the development of digital twin programs.
SSI delivers software, services, and expertise for the business of shipbuilding. They take advantage of the rapidly evolving technologies that define the future of the industry and understand how to implement them specifically for shipbuilders. For over 35 years, their team has been globally recognized for their specific solutions for the design, engineering, construction, and maintenance of shipbuilding projects.
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Interview with David Wiseman, Vice President, Secure Communications, BlackBerry
Check out this week’s episode of Vanguard Radio. Host, J. Richard Jones, sits down for an illuminating conversation with David Wiseman, Vice President, Secure Communications, BlackBerry. With over 25 years of experience, his expertise spans software, security, mobility, and communications, honed through roles at BlackBerry, IBM, SAP, Sybase, and the US Navy. David holds a bachelor’s in computer science from the University of Mary Washington and an MBA from UNC Chapel Hill. Early in his career, he contributed to developing groundbreaking technologies, including the world's first large-scale environmental geo-spatial database for NASA and radar data fusion software for shipboard systems with the US Navy.
BlackBerry provides enterprises and governments the intelligent software and services that power the world around us. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company’s high-performance foundational software enables major automakers and industrial giants alike to unlock transformative applications, drive new revenue streams and launch innovative business models, all without sacrificing safety, security, and reliability. With a deep heritage in Secure Communications, BlackBerry delivers operational resiliency with a comprehensive, highly secure, and extensively certified portfolio for mobile fortification, mission-critical communications, and critical events management. The company is also a pioneer in leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to deliver advanced cybersecurity solutions to its customers.
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A Conversation with Daniel Kroese, Vice President, Public Policy & Government Affairs Palo Alto Networks
In this week’s episode of Vanguard Radio, host J. Richard Jones sits down for an engaging conversation with Daniel Kroese, Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs at Palo Alto Networks. Mr. Kroese is leading the company’s engagement with policymakers and government stakeholders. He brings extensive Legislative and Executive Branch cyber policy experience, including roles as Staff Director for Ranking Member Katko on the House Homeland Security Committee and as a senior advisor to Director Krebs at CISA.
Previously, Daniel served as Chief of Staff to Congressman John Ratcliffe, chair of the House Homeland Cybersecurity Subcommittee. At Palo Alto Networks, he leverages this expertise to strengthen the cybersecurity ecosystem. Daniel is also a visiting fellow at the National Security Institute.
Palo Alto Networks is the world’s cyber security leader, offering next-gen security solutions, expert services, and industry-leading threat intelligence. They empower organizations across every sector to transform with confidence.
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In the latest episode of Vanguard Radio, host J. Richard Jones sits down with France Hébert, Vice-President and General Manager of Defence & Security Canada at CAE. She leads operations across 16 sites with 800 employees. She also serves as President of SkyAlyne and CAE Military Aviation Training, and sits on the boards of CADSI, True Patriot Love, and Invest Ottawa.
With 35 years in defence and aerospace, France has held senior roles in strategy, business development, and operations, achieving success in complex billion-dollar programs. Her career includes service as a Canadian Armed Forces officer and roles at Bombardier, Nortel, and GDMS-C.
France holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Physics) from the Royal Military College of Canada, a Business Administration certificate from McGill University, and a PMP designation.
CAE provides critical expertise and solutions to enhance safety worldwide. As a technology company, it digitalizes the physical world through software-based simulation training and operational support. CAE empowers aviation and defence professionals to excel, especially in high-stakes situations.
With around 13,000 employees across 240+ sites in over 40 countries, CAE boasts over 75 years of industry-leading innovations in flight simulators and digital training programs. Committed to sustainability, CAE ensures its customers are always ready for key moments.
As Canada’s largest defence company, CAE supports national security across NATO and its allies, equipping service members with advanced training and technologies to complete missions safely.
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Interview with Kwon-Sik Woo, Senior VP, Director of Marketing & Sales, Naval & Special Ship Business Unit, HD HHI
In this episode of Vanguard Radio, host J. Richard Jones sits down with Kwon-Sik Woo, Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing & Sales for the Naval & Special Ship Business Unit at Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). With over 28 years of experience in the global shipbuilding industry, Mr. Woo offers valuable insights into HHI’s leading role in naval shipbuilding and defence contracting for the Republic of Korea Navy.
Mr. Woo’s career journey began in HHI’s Shipsales Department, moved to heading international offices in London and Singapore, and eventually to his current executive role. He discusses the evolution of HHI’s Naval & Special Ship Business Unit, a world-renowned naval shipyard and licensed defence industrial shipbuilder. As HHI celebrates over 50 years of innovation and excellence in heavy industries, Mr. Woo sheds light on how the company continues to lead in engineering advancements, diversifying into offshore and machinery sectors, while remaining at the forefront of naval technology.
Join us for an engaging discussion on the future of naval defence, international collaboration, and the strategic direction of one of the most influential companies in the global shipbuilding landscape.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Vanguard Weekly is a weekly podcast produced by the publishers of Vanguard media. Segments include Insights, news and opinion for the Canadian Defence Industry. Vanguard is Canada's leading media source for magazines, events, podcasts and more!
In this episode of Vanguard Radio, we will hear from two members of the SkyAlyne team. Joining us is Abir Kazan, capture manager for SkyAlyne, serving as the company’s main point of contact with the Government of Canada and guiding a diverse team of experts through the process of creating SkyAlyne’s solution for FAcT. Abir has more than 20 years of experience navigating complex defence proposals and contracts for CAE.
The other guest is Peter Fedak. Peter spent 25 years as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Peter was helicopter pilot with the RCAF, serving in Haiti and Afghanistan, and a Qualified Flying Instructor of the highest order, posted in various locations including Fort Rucker, Alabama, and as the Commandant of 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School at Southport, MB. Following his retirement from the RCAF, Peter became the Site Manager for the contractor at Southport – KF Aerospace – a position he holds today.
Our guests will talk about their solution for this major government/military procurement, the benefits for Canada including jobs, Indigenous communities and as a home-grown innovation driver. They will touch on incumbency, in-service support and lasting community relationships.
In this episode of Vanguard Radio, we will talk about a major problem that affects naval vessels - that problem is corrosion. How can we detect and assess corrosion behind surface coatings such as paint, insulation, tiles, and seamless decking onboard Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) platforms in order to reduce corrosion’s operational impact and improve the effectiveness of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance?
To tell us more is Tom Hughes, Sandbox and Test Drive Manager for IDEaS (Innovation for Defence, Excellence and Security).
Over a hundred years ago, The Boeing Company became a key partner in the Canadian aerospace industry. Since that time, Boeing has grown to become a leader in the Canadian aerospace industry with 12 locations across the country supporting Boeing’s commercial and defence industries.
The Government of Canada has tasked EY and WithYouWithMe, a company that helps jobseekers get tech jobs without having to invest years and money into training, to support Canada’s internal cyber capability, through its Cyber Workforce Enablement Program (CWEP).
As part of this, WithYouWithMe is providing Canadian Military Veterans with free transition, including training and support to start a career in technology, post military service. The program will validate the demand for Canadian military members to start technology careers and to roll them into government tech roles.
On the show today, hear from Caleb Walker who served 20 years in the Canadian Army, including three tours to Afghanistan. As a Task Force Commander, he received a Chief of Defence Staff Commendation. While deployed in Kandahar, he saw first-hand the potential of the Canadian veteran and their ability to operate and adapt to complex environments. After retiring from the Canadian Army, Caleb joined WithYouWithMe as the Country Manager and is seeking to solve underemployment across Canada for marginalized communities.
WithYouWithMe has a supply arrangement with Shared Services Canada to deliver technology talent from the veteran and military spouse communities. This summer WithYouWithMe will train 1,000 Indigenous people for free so that they can join this journey.
Hear more about the Cyber Workforce Enablement Program and how WithYouWithMe is working with Canada on this, Canada's digital talent accessibility problem, the government's skill gap, why does government talent need to be agile and skills over controls.
COVID-19 is affecting all facets of society today and life as we know it. This pandemic is creating havoc around the world and is being used by threat actors to perpetrate grey zone actions and to infiltrate security vulnerabilities.
In this episode of Vanguard Radio, J. Richard Jones talks with Valarie Findlay, American Society for Evidenced-Based Policing member and a research fellow for the Police Foundation (USA). Valarie has two decades of senior-level expertise in cybersecurity and policing initiatives. She has worked extensively on federal cyber initiatives and is a member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police eCrimes Cyber Council and AFCEA DC. She has a Masters in Sociology and a Masters in Terrorism Studies with her dissertation addressing the impacts of terrorism on law enforcement in Western Nations.
In a time of crisis, there are a number of areas of potential exposure for malicious threats and non-malicious threats. The latter is more a part of a pandemic. Learn more about how one aspect is affecting other aspects of society, resulting in a broader state of vulnerability.
Hear about grey zone actions that can create vulnerabilities for a nation to be attacked and who it can be used to erode a nation's democracy. These are covert and often hard to detect actions. But how we respond to them is important in maintaining a democracy and the overall stability of a nation. When a country is in a state of crisis or vulnerability like the COVID-19 pandemic, it leaves that nation more susceptible to grey zone actions. The question at that point is, does that nation have the ability to handle additional threats in a state of crisis?
Valarie talks about Prevention, Detection, Response and Recovery strategies and how these can help in a crisis, the inconsistency of messages across social media, how governments need to have a consistent message for the social wellbeing of citizens and result of misinformation as a grey zone action that results in destabilization and phycological impact on people.
As a family-owned Canadian business, Thordon Bearings Inc. has made a mark on the international scene by designing and manufacturing non-polluting bearing systems in the marine and clean power generation industries. The 100-year old company has an international network of agents, distributors and regional sales representatives in 90 countries, its stellar marketing support providing high performance, oil and grease-free bearing systems, seals and other shaft line products.
Thordon Bearings Inc. is a true Canadian success story. In this episode of Vanguard Radio, J. Richard Jones talks with George A. ‘Sandy’ Thomson, Innovator at Thordon Bearings Inc.
We know that communications in the North is always a challenge. Recently, two communications companies teamed up to offer a new service to help solve this issue.
Galaxy Broadband and Hunter Communications have recently announced a new service to provide high-power Ku-band satellite service to Canadian federal departments and agencies using the new Hunter Ku-band satellite coverage. And now, for the first time this service is available through Shared Services Canada.
In this episode of Vanguard Radio, J. Richard Jones talks with Doug Harvey from Galaxy Broadband and Brent Perrott from Hunter Communications about this new service.
Learn more about what prompted these companies to get together, what this means for Canada’s military, the coverage or reach, in-flight connectivity, the Hunter beam and their experience in providing service in the North.
To learn more go to https://huntercomm.net/and http://www.galaxybroadband.ca/.
In this episode of Vanguard Radio, J. Richard Jones talks with Astrid Neuland, Business Development Executive at Thales Canada. Astrid is an active volunteer at Wounded Warriors Canada, an organization that is dedicated to honour and support Canada’s ill and injured Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, first responders and their families.
Hear about the upcoming bike ride programs that Wounded Warriors is organizing to raise funds to increase awareness of PTSD issues and for mental health programs. Astrid shares her experience of participating in these bike rides at home and overseas and the camaraderie and support from fellow riders and the public.
To learn more about Wounded Warriors and how you can support, go to https://woundedwarriors.ca/.
In the show today, J. Richard Jones talks with Simon Olsen, Director of Business Development for Strategy and Partnerships at Sentient Vision. Hear about Simon’s perspective on the future of marine search and rescue for Canadians, the challenges officers are facing when it comes to water defence and marine SAR and new technologies to consider.
He also shares his insight on new approaches and technologies that the US Coast Guard, the UK Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy are using that Canada should consider adopting and the world’s first Optical Radar - ViDAR. This is an airborne persistent wide-area maritime search system that autonomously detects objects on the ocean surface and provides the operator with a detailed image of objects that other search methods often miss. A "game-changing" system for search and rescue!
As the Director of Business Development, strategy and Partnerships at Sentient, Simon has extensive networks within the aviation, unmanned systems, general aircraft integration, sensors and exploitation markets both in Australia and around the world. He is also a former member of the board for the Australian Association of Unmanned Systems.
To learn more, go to: http://www.sentientvision.com/
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology has evolved significantly over the past decade, with innovative new drones hitting the enterprise and consumer market regularly. While the focus has been primarily on how drones can be used to enhance enterprise applications -- everything from Public Safety applications, to military deployments, hydro and telecom infrastructure inspections, and even to agriculture -- there are some security risks that are inherent with drone availability.
In this episode, J. Richard Jones talks with Marc Bouvrette, President of Gap Wireless, a stocking distributor of mobile broadband and wireless solutions including one of the most impressive suites of vendor partner UAV solutions in North America. Marc delves into the security aspects of the UAV market and how the latest technology is enabling protection from rogue drones and their pilots.