CDSN Podcast Network Canadian Defence and Security Network - Réseau Canadien Sur La Défense et la Sécurité

In the 8th episode of our 3rd season, Steve and Thomas discuss NATO perspectives in Artic Security from his recent visit to the NATO Defence College in Rome, Arctic threats in the Defence Policy Update along with procurement investments and timelines PLUS FBI Director Wray’s analysis of Chinese hacker threat on critical infrastructure as well as US aid to Ukraine. In this week's feature interview Thomas speaks with William Alberque; Director of Strategy, Technology and Arms Control at the International Institute for Strategic Studies focusing on preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction and related delivery systems, as well as risk reduction and arms control.
William previously served as the director of NATO’s Arms Control, Disarmament, and WMD Non-Proliferation Centre (ACDC), with more than 25 years' experience in arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation.

In this 9th episode of the Field Report, Amy Topshee and Lauren Mannix take you inside the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. for a conversation with Wendy Boudreau and Mandy Sheldrake, members of the Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs section. 

Wendy and Mandy shed light on the purpose of their team and how it is unique among the many embassies in D.C., clarify common misunderstandings about the dynamics of Canada-U.S. relations, and emphasize the importance of proactive advocacy to ensure that U.S. lawmakers appreciate the mutual benefits of this bilateral relationship. 

Wendy Boudreau is a Congressional Liaison Officer at the Canadian Embassy in D.C, on a rotational position as part of the Canadian Foreign Service.

Mandy Sheldrake is a Congressional Liaison Officer at the Canadian Embassy in D.C., she is a Locally Engaged employee who has worked at the Embassy for 18 years.

Amy Topshee is an alumnus of the 2022 NATO Field School and 2023 NATO Field School Intern, she is currently working as a Legislative Intern in the British Columbia Legislature.

Lauren Mannix is a Research Coordinator for the Conference of Defence Associations Institute and an alumnus of the 2022 NATO Field School.

In the seventh episode of season three, co-hosts Anessa Kimball and Steve Saideman discuss some details from the newly released Defence Policy Update, NATO’s 75th Anniversary, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Wayne Eyre has turned off commenting on his twitter (X) feed. This week Steve interviews Roger Hilton, Canadian media presenter and research fellow at GLOBSEC in Bratislava.
GLOBSEC is a global think-tank with local offices in Bratislava, Brussels, Kyiv, Vienna, and Washington D.C. committed to enhancing security, prosperity and sustainability in Europe and throughout the world. Its mission is to influence the future by generating new ideas and solutions for a better and safer world. GLOBSEC helps to provide a better understanding of global trends and their consequences for society, economy, and security. We generate new ideas and solutions for a more stable, prosperous, and sustainable world, by: Conducting world-class research and political insight into major threats and risks to our society; Driving change by engaging esteemed policy-makers and senior leaders from different sectors in our policy initiatives; Putting together leaders and stakeholders from multiple sectors at the right time in one place.

This episode of the Field Report was presented by:
Hannah Christensen, Program Manager of the NATO Field School, and Sophie Sacilotto, a Masters student in the Centre of European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies at the University of Toronto. With special thanks to our Field Report Production team for their support. 

Our special guest today is Dr, Col (ret'd) Ian Hope. Dr Hope is a retired military official with 40 years of experience, including the first Gulf War, as well as multiple tours in the Balkans, Africa, and Afghanistan. He commanded the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group, Task Force Orion, in combat in Kandahar in 2006, the Canadian battlegroup which experienced the first major land combat operations since the Korean War, earning him the Meritorious Service Cross. Dr Hope holds a PhD from Queen's University in American Military History, and has studied strategic studies and military theory and history from the United States Army War College and the School of Advanced Military Studies. He has also served on the faculty of the US Army War College, the Royal Military College, and the NATO Defense College.

As NATO reaches its 75th anniversary, the NATO Field School is taking the opportunity to reflect on one of Canada's largest recent involvements in NATO, leading the Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in Latvia. 

In today's episode, hosts Chris Babcock and Hannah Christensen sit down with Brigadier-General Rutland, the Chief of Staff, Operations, for the Canadian Army, and the first Commanding Officer of the Enhanced Forward Presence in 2017, to discuss the eFP's scaling up from battlegroup to brigade, the unique nature of eFP Latvia is the most multi-national of all the eFPs,  and what opportunities and challenges this commitment presents for the Canadian Armed Forces. 

This episode of the Field Report was presented by:
Chris Babcock, a Masters student at Carleton University, and
Hannah Christensen, Program Manager of the NATO Field School. With special thanks to our Field Report Production team for their support. 

Our special guest today BGen Rutland, Chief of Staff, Operations, CAF. BGen Rutland joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1995 as a primary reservist. In 2017, while commander of First Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, he deployed as the first Commanding Officer of the Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group. For this deployment, he was named an Officer of the Order of Viesturs, in recognition of his contributions to the promotion of security and defence in Latvia.

In episode 6 of BR Season 3, Co-hosts Linna Tam-Seto and Steve Saideman discuss new legislation proposed to address the abuse of power crisis within DND; military to civilian transition issues for veterans transferring to public service and Tik Tok! Steve interviews our Post-Doc, Ryan Atkinson about his research on emerging technologies and NATO Centers of Excellence.
Ryan Atkinson is Postdoctoral Fellow at Carleton University where his research focuses on defence policy. He previously worked at NATO and has experience in the private sector as a cybersecurity consultant. Ryan completed a PhD from Western University and an MA from the University of Toronto.