Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. It's my pleasure to be here.
Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today about my recent appointment as associate deputy minister of National Defence.
I would like to take a few minutes to summarize the career experience—both military and civilian—that positions me to take on this role.
I have been a senior executive with the Department of National Defence for a number of years now. Earlier in my career, I spent nearly 26 years in uniform with the Canadian Armed Forces as an infantry officer with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
In fact, I am a graduate of both the Royal Military College of Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
I also hold a master's degree in business administration from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and a master's in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
During my time with the Canadian Armed Forces, I held a number of appointments that helped prepare me for the challenges I would face in my civilian career. These included appointments as the commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, in Winnipeg, and as the commander of the joint operations group in Kingston, where I led the operations, training, and administration of Canada's only tri-service high readiness and rapidly deployable command and control headquarters.
Upon retiring from the military in 2004, I continued to serve Canada as a senior member of the civil service during a time of change and renewal, and was motivated by a desire to use the skills I had gained in the military to help foster whole-of-government relationships, manage complex projects, provide strategic guidance, and allocate resources in a sound and effective manner.
As director general of strategic planning, business integration, and shared services at Public Works and Government Services Canada between 2004 and 2005, I was responsible for developing the engagement and reporting frameworks related to issues management and departmental renewal initiatives, as well as implementing strategies to promote the delivery of services.
ln 2005 I went on to serve as executive director of the security and justice division at the Treasury Board Secretariat, where I led the analysis of program issues within 16 Public Safety and Justice departments and agencies, providing guidance, oversight, and advice on program requirements and resource allocation.
Following two years in this position, I became the deputy commissioner of the Atlantic region within the Correctional Service of Canada, based in Moncton, New Brunswick, where I was responsible for fostering stakeholder relations and improving operations within six institutions, four correctional centres, and several parole offices spread across four provinces.
ln 2008 I returned to National Defence as the assistant deputy minister for information management and chief information officer, an appointment I held for four years. ln this position, I led an integrated team of 3,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel in the delivery, sustainment, and life-cycle management of information management and technology services to over 100,000 clients located across Canada and around the world.
This included direct support to military operations during a period when our operational tempo was intense.
I also planned and oversaw the transition of over 220 employees and over $120 million in resources from National Defence to Shared Services Canada when it stood up.
I completed the year-long advanced leadership program at the Canada School of Public Service in 2010.
In 2012 I assumed the duties of assistant deputy minister for materiel. ln that position, I was responsible for a budget in excess of $5 billion. I led a team of 4,500 military and civilian personnel in the acquisition and support of aircraft, ships, vehicles, and other capital equipment while facilitating the department's implementation of the new defence procurement strategy.
Mr. Chair, although I have not worn a uniform for many years now, I remain deeply committed to this country and to the well-being of the Canadian Armed Forces.
I feel privileged to be part of the senior leadership of the defence team. I believe that my knowledge of the department and my experience leading people and managing budgets, programs, projects, and renewal initiatives, including those in the areas of high-readiness operations, information management technology, and materiel have helped position me to take on the role of associate deputy minister. This entails responsibility to the deputy minister, Mr. John Forster, who just spoke, for files related to defence renewal, search and rescue, information management and technology, and defence procurement.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to any questions you may have.