DEFENCE DECONSTRUCTED PODCAST

February 7, 2020

On today's Defence Deconstructed Podcast, we are broadcasting a recording of the “Keeping Canada Strong at Home and Secure in North America” armchair discussion with Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence Jody Thomas from our 29 Jan. 2019 Modernizing North American Defence conference.

Defence Deconstructed is part of the CGAI Podcast Network and today’s episode is brought to you by the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI). This conference was made possible by the MINDS program from the Department of National Defence.

Participant Biographies:

• Dave Perry (host): Senior Analyst and Vice President with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
• Jody Thomas: appointed Deputy Minister of the Department of National Defence (DND) in October 2017. Before becoming Deputy Minister, she has had broad and varied experience working at senior levels in the Public Service, including as Senior Associate Deputy Minister for DND, Chief of Business Planning and Administration with Public Works and Government Services Canada’s Atlantic Region, and multiple positions at the Victoria Office of Passport Canada. In 2010, Ms. Thomas joined the Canadian Coast Guard as Deputy Commissioner of Operations, leading the development and implementation of the Coast Guard’s strategic and operational policy frameworks. From September 2014 to January 2015, until she became Commissioner of the Coast Guard. She also served as Special Advisor to the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Operations) at the Privy Council Office. Ms. Thomas currently holds a commission in the Naval Reserve. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University

Related Links:

• “Modernizing North American Defence” (Conference Program)
• “Aging Norad warning system can’t detect Russian bombers in time, Canadian officer warns” (Canadian Press article)