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September 4, 2020 | Local, Naval, Land, C4ISR

PETER JENNINGS (ASPI): CANADA + AUSTRALIA IN THE INDO-PACIFIC

Q: In what ways has Australia's defence policy changed in the new strategic outlook? How has China responded?

Peter Jennings: Australia has a tradition of producing what we call “defence white papers” every five years or so. [This one] is essentially a policy update that will change the current direction of Australian defence thinking in significant ways—increased spending on military equipment, for example. Strategically, we are going to prioritize our immediate region— the Indo-Pacific. For the past few decades our defence force has maintained a very close operational focus on the Middle East, but I think this is relative history which won't last for very much longer.

The language of the Strategic Update is cautious and, in some ways, coded. There's no question that the language employed is a result of actions taken by a more assertive China. Government thinking was largely influenced by China's increased militarization of the South China Sea. Since 2015, China's military capacity has hastily extended into Southeast Asia, up to the coast of Indonesia. This is the strategic picture our government must consider.

The update has shifted the focus towards our present defence force, with an emphasis on what can be done in the near-term to increase the range and hitting power of the Australian armed forces through a significant acquisition of anti-surface and anti-air missiles. We are also identifying opportunities for domestic production of those weapons here in Australia. We will be acquiring new submarines as well, the first of which will hit the water in 2035, with construction on some models extending into 2050. That is the future defence force.

The update has been well received by most of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. This is largely because there appears to be an unspoken census in the region that China is the number one problem. A strong Australia, capable of contributing to regional security is desirable in the Indo-Pacific. I think it was well received by the Pentagon. I'm unsure whether the White House has the attention span to focus on it too much, but [our] relationship remains reliable and in good order despite [current events].

I don't know if the defence update was particularly subject to criticism from China. That is partly because there is so much Australia is doing right now that China has criticized. I think the PLA would look at this and think “That is quite a sophisticated little organization.” The ADF is only 60,000 people strong. However, it is a very high-tech force and the Chinese find that quite interesting. At a political level, there is practically nothing our government can say or do at the moment that has not received disapproval from the CCP.

Q: China has warned Canada that it will face consequences for it's so called interference in Hong Kong. What kind of pressure, if any, has Australia faced for its stance on the new security law? Do you see any parallels between our relationship with China?

Peter Jennings: China has increasingly employed what has been termed “Wolf warrior diplomacy”, a style exercise to create an image of a more assertive, confident, and intervening China on the global stage.

There are some close similarities but also some differences between the bilateral relationships Canada and Australia share with China. Canada is nowhere near as dependent on China as Australia is for trade. Canada does have a Chinese Canadian population as part of its diaspora, but I don't think it is anywhere near the size of our own [diaspora]. That's a factor, as are our geographies. Any country that pushes back or expresses disapproval of the treatment of Uyghurs or of the national security law in Honk Kong will receive the brunt of Chinese criticism. They may also find themselves subjected to various types of coercion via trade measures, which China will not hesitate to use as an instrument of its broader foreign policy.

As a democracy that advocates for human rights and the international rule of law, Canada will increasingly find itself on the sharp end of Beijing's criticism. Australia is a model for this in a way. If Canada does what it should do, i.e. ensuring its 5G network is not vulnerable to high risk vendors from China, then this too will be badly received in Beijing. Democracies around the world shave to stiffen their spines and realize that this is the world that we are in for the moment. We can't let ourselves be too spooked by the tough talk that comes out of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Global Times, or any of the other instruments utilized by the CCP to express its displeasure.

We are aware of the case of the two Michaels currently being detained in China on espionage charges. Right now, an Australian named Yang Hengjun is on death row in China on drug smuggling charges. I make no judgement about the accuracy of the charges, but we oppose the death penalty here in Australia so that is an issue. Frankly what we have seen is a type of hostage taking. It is designed to quell the behavior of our government when dealing with China and to create another source of leverage or coercion that the CCP can use to exert pressure on us.

You cannot safely criticize the CCP, particularly inside China and get away with it. Australia will continue to look after Yang's situation, but this is the China we are dealing with now. And as was seen with the [two Michaels], China is quite openly prepared to use coercive treatments such as these to make political points against countries.

Q: What steps has Australia taken to address CCP influence on Australia's China policy, political parties, and universities?

Peter Jennings: We've been working on this issue for about 4-5 years now. It could be argued that Australia used to be complacent about Chinese infiltration and influence. Some may observe we've now swung hard in the other direction, though I don't necessarily agree with that.

Firstly, we have modernized our espionage and anti-interference laws which had not been modified since the 1960s. There is now a process whereby covert influencing operations, once identified, can be held legally accountable. Secondly, we have created what is known as the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme—a process whereby individuals and organizations must declare received funding from foreign sources. Particularly if that funding is used to shape and influence policy outcomes in Australia. At ASPI, we receive some funding from the United States, the Netherlands, the foreign and commonwealth office in the United Kingdom. We register those activities on the foreign influence transparency scheme. Now we are extending these practices more broadly to include universities and research institutions.

Governments have, with great reluctance, put controls on the ability of political parties to receive foreign donations. We haven't successfully managed this issue in universities. The Australian university system is heavily dependent on funding from foreign students' fees. A significant number of those foreign students—several hundreds of thousands, are from China. This has done a lot to compromise the willingness of our universities to protect freedom of speech. There have been some ugly incidents that would indicate our universities, if presented with a principle or a dollar, will go for the dollar every time.

There has been an explosion of research connections between Australian universities and Chinese institutions, which has grown in the hundreds over the five years. This has become a serious concern to the federal government and to our intelligence agencies. There is concern over the extent to which research is providing a vector for intellectual policy theft, espionage, and research designed to benefit the Chinese military intelligence establishment. Some universities acknowledge the problem and are adapting their business models, while others are in utter denial.

Q: Australia was the first country in the Five Eyes to ban Huawei, there is now discussion about possibly banning other Chinese companies. What is the rationale or desired outcome behind these measures? As an ally, is Canada expected to follow suit?

Peter Jennings: In 2018 Australia decided to exclude companies they referred to as “high risk” vendors from bidding into our 5G network. China was not specifically named, however a “high risk” constitutes a company that could be subject to control by a foreign government so it can use of technology for the purposes of espionage or inflicting damage to critical infrastructure.

This decision ultimately excluded Huawei from our 5G network. A major impetus behind the government's decision was China's 2017 national security law, which stated that individuals and companies must assist the national security services if they are asked to and that they must hide that they have cooperated with the Chinese security services. Huawei is not subject to that Chinese law, but there is a very strong presumption at the government level that this is untrue.

Far be it for me, an Australia, to tell the Canadians what to do. Canada needs to come to its own decision regarding the security of its network. However, I cannot see how Canada could, in the light of what the other Five Eye countries have done, conclude how it is capable of managing this situation with Huawei inside the 5G network. I very much hope that Canada will take the decision to exclude those companies. I think Canada takes a stand it will create opportunities for closer collaboration through the Five Eyes countries. What started as a vehicle for intelligence collaboration is broadening into a vehicle for policy collaboration. It would be very nice if Canada could continue to be a part of that grouping.

Q: What kind of role is Canada expected to play with its allies to address and possibly help stabilize growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific? How could we be a better ally in the region?

Peter Jennings: Canada is a valuable player in the Indo-Pacific because it is a successful multicultural democracy. Canada takes human rights as well as its international role in the world seriously. To have Canada playing this kind role, diplomatically and politically, in the Indo-Pacific is very welcome from an Australian perspective. I would like to see Canada do more, particularly in the Pacific in terms of military presence and cooperation with countries in the region. The Pacific is definitely a region of growing strategic importance.

This likely won't lead to a massive reorientation of Canadian military thinking anytime soon, but I would just make the point that as a valuable partner, anything that Canada does in and with the region in terms of military collaboration is important. Where I think we should be doing a better job is talking to each other more effectively on issues like China. This is where the Five Eyes need to stick together. We must share internal thinking about how we are going to deal with the problem of this assertive, authoritarian state. What Beijing has been very effectively able to do is split coalitions. This weakens all of us and I think a more focused engagement that puts more substance into our bilateral relationships in a security sense would be valuable.

I have been an advocate for closer bilateral relations with Canada for many years now going back to the time when I was in the defence department. I think there is always a risk involving Australia and Canada. We think we are so alike. We feel we have a familial type of relationship, but we do not actually do enough to push each other to be better, more effective partners. My message is, let's not be comfortable or content with just reaching for familial metaphors about how we can do things together. We need to work harder to be better and more effective partners.

https://cdainstitute.ca/peter-jennings-interview-canadian-australian-collaboration-countering-china-in-the-indo-pacific/

On the same subject

  • Liberals press on with second-hand jets amid questions over who will fly them

    November 23, 2018 | Local, Aerospace

    Liberals press on with second-hand jets amid questions over who will fly them

    CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — The Trudeau government pressed ahead with its plan to buy second-hand fighter jets from Australia on Tuesday despite withering fire from the federal auditor general, who warned that the military might not have anybody to fly them. Six years after blowing up the Harper government's plan to buy new F-35s without a competition, auditor general Michael Ferguson targeted the Liberals' own attempts to buy jets. He first picked apart the government's aborted plan to purchase “interim” Super Hornets to bolster Canada's aging CF-18 fleet, and then its current plan to buy used Australian fighters. The government says those extra fighters are needed to address a shortage of CF-18s until a state-of-the-art replacement can be purchased and delivered — a lengthy process that will run through 2032, at which point the CF-18s will be 50 years old. But the auditor general's office arrived at a very different conclusion: The military doesn't need more planes because it doesn't even have the pilots and mechanics to operate what it already has. What it really needs, the office found, is more people. “The shortage of personnel in relation to technicians means that they don't have enough technicians to prepare and maintain the planes,” Casey Thomas, the principal auditor on the fighter jets study, told reporters on Tuesday. “And they have 64 per cent of the pilots that they need, so they don't have enough pilots to fly the planes. What National Defence actually needed was to increase its personnel.” The auditor general's report also flagged concerns that the government's plan to sink $3 billion into the current CF-18s and additional Australian fighters to keep them flying to 2032 won't be enough, as the money won't actually improve the aircrafts' combat systems. Without more money, which some analysts have suggested could mean hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars more, Canada's fighter-jet fleet will become even more obsolete, to the point where the plans might not be any use at home or overseas. Yet only a few hours after the auditor general's report was released, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced that the Liberals had signed a contract to buy the 18 second-hand jets from Australia. Officials have pegged the cost at around $500 million. Sajjan also said he had directed officials to look at options for upgrading the combat systems on the CF-18s and Australian fighters, which he acknowledged would mean investing more money into aging fighter jets. Missing from the announcement: Any new funding or other initiative to increase recruiting and retention of pilots and technicians. Instead, Sajjan said the government and military have already introduced several initiatives through the Liberals' defence policy last year, such as giving tax breaks to military personnel deployed on overseas missions, to give them reasons to stay. At the same time, the minister sidestepped questions about recruitment, saying the military can't reduce its standards for new pilots. He noted that commercial airlines are also facing a significant pilot crunch. Air-force commanders have previously said the current training system, which can only produce 115 new pilots each year, a fraction of whom are fighter pilots, is not fast enough to replace all those who move on to commercial opportunities. The subtext to much of the auditor general's report on Tuesday was the question of how Canada ended up in a position where the military will be flying fighter jets until they are 50 years old. The Liberals were urged early in their tenure to launch an immediate competition to replace the CF-18s. Instead they spent two years working to buy those stopgap Super Hornets before a trade dispute with the company that makes them, Boeing, saw the government move on to the used Australian jets. The Trudeau government insists that it was doing its due diligence, but critics — including numerous retired air force and defence officials — have accused it of trying to bend procurement rules to avoid buying the F-35. Yet even before the Liberals took the reins, the Harper government was having a hard time making any progress on buying new fighter jets. The Tories championed the F-35 before resetting the entire process in 2012. That move was prompted by Ferguson's first report, which accused defence officials of misleading parliamentarians about the stealth fighter's costs and various technical issues. National Defence later pegged the full lifetime cost of the fighters at $46 billion. “Lot of people had a hand in this,” said defence analyst David Perry of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, adding that the worst part is there is no easy or obvious solution to what has become a very troubling situation for Canada and its military. “I think our fighter force is in trouble.” https://lfpress.com/news/national/liberals-press-ahead-with-second-hand-jets-amid-questions-over-who-will-fly-them/wcm/859a3329-9d8b-4856-af7f-5c8064e778e7

  • Gen. Vance announces new appointments of colonels and RCN captains

    March 5, 2019 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security, Other Defence

    Gen. Vance announces new appointments of colonels and RCN captains

    DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN Here are the latest via an internal Canadian Forces message from Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance on the appointments/retirements of Colonels and Navy Captains in the Canadian military (Apologies for the all capital letters but that is how the document was provided to me): IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO ANNOUNCE THE FOLLOWING COLONEL/CAPTAIN (NAVY) PROMOTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, AND RETIREMENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE, OR WILL OCCUR IN 2019. I WISH TO OFFER MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION FOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICES OF THOSE OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AS THEY TRANSITION FROM THE CAF AND I OFFER MY HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS AND SINCEREST BEST WISHES TO THOSE TAKING ON NEW APPOINTMENTS AND NEW RESPONSIBILITIES COLONEL J.A.D. ABBOUD WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER 2ND CANADIAN DIVISION SUPPORT GROUP, IN MONTREAL, REPLACING COLONEL L.H.P.S. BOUCHER COLONEL G.M. ADAMSON WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME, AT CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE, IN TORONTO CAPTAIN(N) J.S. ARMSTRONG WILL BE APPOINTED CHIEF OF STAFF, NAVAL STAFF, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) D.M.C. YOUNG WHO WILL RETIRE COLONEL T.M. ARSENAULT WILL BE APPOINTED BRIGADE COMMANDER 5 CANADIAN MECHANIZED BRIGADE GROUP, CANADIAN ARMY, IN VALCARTIER, REPLACING COLONEL J.R.S. BOIVIN COLONEL D.P.J. BAZIN WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST AT THE CANADIAN FORCES LANGUAGE SCHOOL, IN GATINEAU COLONEL J.R.J. BERNIER WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST AT THE CANADIAN FORCES LANGUAGE SCHOOL, IN GATINEAU CAPTAIN(N) J.F.A. BOISJOLI WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST AT THE CANADIAN FORCES LANGUAGE SCHOOL, IN GATINEAU CAPTAIN(N) J.J.L.D. BOUCHARD WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME, AT THE EISENHOWER SCHOOL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND RESOURCE STRATEGY, IN WASHINGTON, DC COLONEL L.H.P.S. BOUCHER WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, AT MILPERSCOM, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL K.D. BRODIE CAPTAIN(N) M.D. BOWEN WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER FIFTH MARITIME OPERATIONS GROUP, IN HALIFAX CAPTAIN(N) J.R. BOYD WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER NAVAL PERSONNEL AND TRAINING GROUP, IN ESQUIMALT, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) M. DREWS COLONEL K.D. BRODIE WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER, CMSG, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL C.J. ZIMMER COLONEL K.D. BROWN WILL BE APPOINTED CANADIAN DEFENCE ATTACHE AFGHANISTAN, IN KABUL, REPLACING COLONEL J.V. PUMPHREY CAPTAIN(N) S.W. CARTER WILL BE EXTENDED UNTIL APS 20, AS CANADIAN DEFENCE LIAISON OFFICER HOMELAND DEFENCE PACIFIC FLEET, IN HAWAII COLONEL A.D. CHAFAI WILL BE APPOINTED ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF RESERVE, 2 CDN DIV, IN MONTREAL, REPLACING COLONEL D.J.E. ROUSSEL CAPTAIN(N) M.D. COATES WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY, AT DGMP, IN OTTAWA COLONEL S.A. CONNOR WILL BE APPOINTED DEPUTY COMMANDER COMBINED AEROSPACE OPERATIONS CENTRE, IN TYNDALL, FLORIDA COLONEL D.S. CONSTABLE WILL BE APPOINTED FIGHTER CAPABILITY REQUIREMENT, AT NDHQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL N. GAGNE COLONEL B.S. COOK WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER 14 WING, IN GREENWOOD, REPLACING COLONEL G.M. ADAMSON COLONEL L.E.R. DENCSAK WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR ARMOURED VEHICLES PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, AT DGLEPM, IN GATINEAU, REPLACING COLONEL C.C. MOYLE COLONEL E.M.C. DERI WILL BE APPOINTED BRANCH HEAD (SUPPORT) STANDING JOINT LOGISTICS SUPPORT GROUP HEADQUARTERS, IN CASTEAU, BELGIUM, REPLACING COLONEL B.D. HERVE COLONEL P.J. DOYLE WILL BE APPOINTED AIR FORCE ADVISOR CANADIAN DEFENCE LIAISON STAFF LONDON, REPLACING COLONEL D.E. MOLSTAD CAPTAIN(N) M. DREWS WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDING OFFICER, FLEET MAINTENANCE FACILITY CAPE BRETON, IN ESQUIMALT, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) S.E. HOOPER WHO WILL RETIRE COLONEL J.S. DUBOIS WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR PERSONNEL GENERATION REQUIREMENTS, AT NDHQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL F. BARITEAU WHO RETIRED COLONEL F.K. EBNER WILL BE APPOINTED DEPUTY DIRECTOR OPERATIONS, NORAD, IN COLORADO SPRINGS, REPLACING COLONEL D.P.J. BAZIN COLONEL C.A. FORESTIER WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME, AT CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE, IN TORONTO CAPTAIN(N) E.G. FORWARD WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME, AT THE EISENHOWER SCHOOL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND RESOURCE STRATEGY, IN WASHINGTON, DC COLONEL R.M. FOSTER WILL BE APPOINTED CANADIAN DEFENCE ATTACHE UKRAINE, IN KIEVE, REPLACING COLONEL R.B. IRWIN COLONEL W.R. FOSTER WILL BE APPOINTED INSTRUCTOR FACULTY ADVISOR, IN ROME, ITALY COLONEL N. GAGNE WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER, 3 WING BAGOTVILLE, REPLACING COLONEL F.W. RADIFF CAPTAIN(N) N. GARCIA IS APPOINTED DIRECTOR MILITARY STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, IN OTTAWA COLONEL K.M. GASH WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR ARMY PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, AT CA HQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL J.S. DUBOIS CAPTAIN(N) J.J.Y. GERMAIN WILL BE APPOINTED NAVAL ADVISER, CANADIAN DEFENCE LIAISON STAFF LONDON, UK, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) M.R. AUCOIN COLONEL L.J. GIROUARD WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER, 2 WING, BAGOTVILLE, REPLACING COLONEL L.R.J. GUILLETTE COLONEL J.A.D. GOULET WILL BE APPOINTED INTELLIGENCE LIAISON OFFICER, MINISTERIAL LIAISON TEAM, OP IMPACT, REPLACING COLONEL F.P. RATTE COLONEL S.G. GRAHAM WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER CANADIAN COMBAT SUPPORT BRIGADE, AT 5TH CANADIAN DIVISION, CANADIAN ARMY, IN KINGSTON, REPLACING COLONEL J.M.A. LAFORTUNE CAPTAIN(N) R.C. GRAY WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME, AT CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE, IN TORONTO COLONEL M. GROS-JEAN WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME, AT CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE, IN TORONTO COLONEL J.C. GUINEY WILL BE APPOINTED DEPUTY COMMANDER, JTF-I, OP IMPACT, REPLACING COLONEL ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED S.D.C. TRENHOLM COLONEL J.J.P. HACHE WILL BE APPOINTED CANADIAN DEFENCE ATTACHE FRANCE, IN PARIS, REPLACING COLONEL J.J.Y. GERMAIN COLONEL M.P. HAUSSMANN WILL BE APPOINTED CADTC CHIEF OF STAFF RESERVES, IN KINGSTON, REPLACING COLONEL J.G.S. TARDIFF COLONEL J.D. HAWTHORNE WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER 12 WING SHEARWATER, REPLACING COLONEL S.A. CONNOR COLONEL C.A. HEILMAN WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF CADETS, AT ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE, IN KINGSTON, REPLACING COLONEL C.C. AYOTTE COLONEL B.D. HERVE WILL BE APPOINTED MILITARY ASSISTANT, AT SHAPE, CASTEAU, BELGIUM REPLACING COLONEL A.H.J. SCHWAB CAPTAIN(N) A.C. HINGSTON WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME AT THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE, IN NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND COLONEL D.K. HOBBS WILL BE APPOINTED REAR CHIEF OF STAFF, 1 CDN DIV, IN KINGSTON, REPLACING COLONEL J.P. DAVIS CAPTAIN(N) J.J. HUTCHINSON WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR NAVAL STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT, AT NDHQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) D. PATCHELL COLONEL J.R. JENSEN WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR LOGISTIC PROGRAMS, AT NDHQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL T.S. MORRISON COLONEL M. KOESTNER WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR ARMS CONTROL VERIFICATION, AT NDHQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL C.R. NAMIESNIOWSKI WHO WILL RETIRE COLONEL E. LAFOREST WILL BE APPOINTED NATIONAL COMMAND ELEMENT COMMANDER TASK FORCE LATVIA, IN RIGA, REPLACING COLONEL J.J. MAJOR COLONEL J.M.A. LAFORTUNE WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST AT THE CANADIAN FORCES LANGUAGE SCHOOL, IN GATINEAU COLONEL D.J. 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MOLSTAD WILL BE APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVISOR MINISTER NATIONAL DEFENCE, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL T.M. ARSENAULT COLONEL T.S. MORRISON WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR MILITARY FAMILY SERVICES, AT NDHQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL C.D. HARRIS WHO WILL RETIRE COLONEL C.C. MOYLE WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR LAND EQUIPMENT PROGRAMME STAFF, DGLEPM, IN GATINEAU, REPLACING COLONEL R.B. DUNDON CAPTAIN(N) J.L. MURRAY WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME, AT CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE, IN TORONTO COLONEL C.I. OBERWARTH WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER COMBAT TRAINING CENTRE, CANADIAN ARMY, IN GAGETOWN, REPLACING COLONEL J.W. ERRINGTON COLONEL J.S. O KEEFE WILL BE APPOINTED CANADIAN DEFENCE ATTACHE JAMAICA, IN KINGSTON COLONEL D.P. O REILLY WILL BE APPOINTED A5/A7 AT 1 CANADIAN AIR DIVISION HEADQUARTERS, IN WINNIPEG, REPLACING COLONEL V.P. WAWRYK COLONEL J.J.C. OUELLETTE WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR, AEROSPACE EQUIPMENT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT (FIGHTERS AND TRAINERS), AT DGAEPM, IN OTTAWA COLONEL R.A. PAMPLIN WILL BE APPOINTED CHIEF OPERATIONAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT, ALLIED AIR COMMAND HEADQUARTERS RAMSTEIN, IN GERMANY, REPLACING COLONEL D.S. CONSTABLE COLONEL J.N.M. PARENT WILL BE APPOINTED PROFESSOR AT THE EISENHOWER SCHOOL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND RESOURCE STRATEGY, IN WASHINGTON, DC, REPLACING COLONEL S.L. MACDONALD COLONEL S.M. PARSONS WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME, AT THE NATIONAL DEFENCE UNIVERSITY, IN WASHINGTON, DC CAPTAIN(N) D.J. PATCHELL WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME, AT THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF DEFENCE STUDIES, IN LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, REPLACING COLONEL J.J.L.N. PILON COLONEL M.F.J. PELLETIER WILL BE APPOINTED DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF READINESS, AT CANADIAN JOINT OPERATIONS COMMAND, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL J.R. JENSEN COLONEL M.R. PERREAULT WAS APPOINTED AS CHIEF OF STAFF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL J.Y.L. GAUDET WHO RETIRED COLONEL J.J.L.N. PILON WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR CURRENT OPERATIONS, STRATEGIC JOINT STAFF, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL S.G. GRAHAM COLONEL S.M. PLOURDE WAS APPOINTED CHIEF OF STAFF, CANADIAN FORCES HEALTH SERVICES GROUP HEADQUARTERS, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL D.A. FARRIS COLONEL D.J.J. POITRAS WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER 19 WING, IN COMOX, REPLACING COLONEL M.C. ATKINS COLONEL J.V. PUMPHREY WILL BE APPOINTED CANADIAN DEFENCE ATTACHE SINGAPORE, IN SINGAPORE, REPLACING COLONEL J.D.J. DRUMMOND COLONEL F.W. RADIFF WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME, AT CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE, IN TORONTO COLONEL M.W.J. RANCOURT WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER CANADIAN FORCES REAL PROPERTY OPERATIONS GROUP, AT ADM IE, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL M. GROS-JEAN COLONEL L.H. REMILLARD WILL BE APPOINTED CANADIAN FORCES INTELLIGENCE LIAISON STAFF (WASHINGTON), IN WASHINGTON, DC REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) S.P. OSBORNE WHO WILL RETIRE COLONEL J.J. RICHARD WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR TARGETING, AT SJS, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL J.S. DUMAS COLONEL J.M.Y.D. RIVIERE WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR OPERATIONS SUPPORT, OP PROTEUS, REPLACING COLONEL J.L.S. MENARD COLONEL M.W.J. RODGERS WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME, AT CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE, IN TORONTO COLONEL D.D. ROSS WILL BE APPOINTED CANADIAN DEFENCE ATTACHE CHINA, IN BEIJING, REPLACING COLONEL F.K. EBNER COLONEL D.A. RUSSEL WILL BE APPOINTED BRANCH HEAD, ADVISOR TO COMMANDER, NATO JOINT FORCES COMMAND HQ, IN ITALY, REPLACING COLONEL J.P. LEVASSEUR COLONEL L.W. RUTLAND WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME, AT THE UNITED STATES ARMY WAR COLLEGE, IN CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA CAPTAIN(N) M.A. SHEPPARD WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR NAVAL STRATEGY, AT NDHQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) M. COATES COLONEL D.A. SMITH WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER CANADIAN FORCES JOINT OPERATIONAL SUPPORT GROUP, IN KINGSTON, REPLACING COLONEL C.M. HARDING COLONEL A.T. SPOTT WILL BE APPOINTED A4 LOGISTICS, 1 CANADIAN AIR DIVISION HEADQUARTERS, IN WINNIPEG, REPLACING COLONEL L.J. GIROUARD COLONEL D.L. TAYLOR WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR AEROSPACE EQUIPMENT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, AT NDHQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL M.W.J. RODGERS COLONEL P.A. THAUBERGER WAS APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING STRATEGIC PLANS, AT SJS, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) S.M. THORNTON CAPTAIN(N) J.R.M. THIBAULT WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR � MATERIEL GROUP STRATEGIC PLAN, AT NDHQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) R.C. GRAY COLONEL N.P. TORRINGTON-SMITH WILL BE APPOINTED VICE CHIEF JOINT CYBER CENTER, NORAD, IN COLORADO SPRINGS, REPLACING COLONEL ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED J.A. ROPER COLONEL E.M. VANDENBERG WILL BE APPOINTED DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF SUPPORT, CANADIAN JOINT OPERATIONS COMMAND, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL M.W.J. RANCOURT COLONEL J.D.V. VASS WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME, AT CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE, IN TORONTO COLONEL R.J. WALKER WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER 15 WING, IN MOOSE JAW, REPLACING COLONEL D.P. O REILLY COLONEL V.P. WAWRYK WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF AIR FORCE TRAINING, 2 CANADIAN AIR DIVISION HEADQUARTERS, IN WINNIPEG, REPLACING COLONEL R.J. WALKER COLONEL H.L. WRIGHT WILL BE APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF MENTAL HEALTH, AT CF H SVCS GP HQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL C.A. FORESTIER LIEUTENANT-COLONEL M.M.M. ASSELIN WAS PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED COMMANDER 4 HEALTH SERVICES GROUP, IN MONTREAL, REPLACING COLONEL S.M. PLOURDE COMMANDER J.A. BIDDISCOMBE WILL BE PROMOTED CAPTAIN(N) ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED AND APPOINTED MEDICAL LIAISON OFFICER, MINISTERIAL LIAISON TEAM, OP IMPACT, REPLACING COLONEL ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED G.J. PECKHAM COMMANDER M.J. BAREFOOT WILL BE PROMOTED CAPTAIN(N) AND APPOINTED DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE – NORAD/USNORTHCOM, IN COLORADO SPRINGS, REPLACING COLONEL L.H. REMILLARD LIEUTENANT-COLONEL D. CHARBONNEAU WAS PROMOTED ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED COLONEL AND APPOINTED COMPTROLLER ROYAL CANADIAN AIRFORCE, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL J.C.D. AUDET WHO RETIRED LIEUTENANT-COLONEL D.S. COUTTS WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND WILL PROCEED TO THE ADVANCED TRAINING LIST TO ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE FOUR PROGRAMME AT UNITED STATES AIR WAR COLLEGE, MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA LIEUTENANT-COLONEL J.A. DALLAIRE WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF � CONTINENTAL OPERATIONS, CANADIAN JOINT OPERATIONS COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL P.C. ALLAN WHO WILL RETIRE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL R.D. DOVE WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED, DEPUTY G5 – 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION, IN FORT HOOD TEXAS, REPLACING COLONEL J.F. CAUDEN LIEUTENANT-COLONEL R.J. FITZGERALD WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED AND APPOINTED CANADIAN DEFENCE ATTACHE BRAZIL, IN BRASILIA, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) J.R.R. BRISSON WHO WILL RETIRE COMMANDER M.Y. FLUET WILL BE PROMOTED CAPTAIN(N) AND APPOINTED DIRECTOR NAVAL FORCE READINESS, IN HALIFAX, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) A.C. HINGSTON LIEUTENANT-COLONEL B.M.V. GIROUX WAS PROMOTED ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED COLONEL AND WILL BE APPOINTED COUNTER TERRORISM LIAISON OFFICER, MINISTERIAL LIAISON TEAM, OP IMPACT, REPLACING COLONEL A.T. RUFF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL D.G. GRIMSHAW WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED AND APPOINTED CANADIAN DEFENCE ATTACHE PAKISTAN, IN ISLAMABAD, REPLACING COLONEL ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED J.J.G. TREMBLAY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL S.T. HATTON WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED CHIEF OF STAFF, CADTC, IN KINGSTON, REPLACING COLONEL J.L. ANDREWS LIEUTENANT-COLONEL D.R. HENLEY WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED DIRECTOR AIR PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL A.T. SPOTT LIEUTENANT-COLONEL C.J. HORNER WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED DIRECTOR AIR DOMAIN DEVELOPMENT, IN OTTAWA REPLACING COLONEL N.P. TORRINGTON-SMITH LIEUTENANT-COLONEL M.C.G. LEHOUX WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED DIRECTOR CONCEPTS AND EXPERIMENTATION, AT CFD, IN OTTAWA LIEUTENANT-COLONEL M.J.E. MALLETTE WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED AND APPOINTED CANADIAN ARMY COMPTROLLER, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL K.M. GASH LIEUTENANT-COLONEL H.S. MORRISON WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED DIRECTOR FORCE SUSTAINMENT, AT CANSOFCOM, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL D.P. MATSALLA WHO WILL RETIRE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL S.R. MURPHY WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED US ARMY CGSC-SAMS INSTRUCTOR, IN FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, REPLACING COLONEL Y. MICHAUD COMMANDER J.S. OUELLET WILL BE PROMOTED CAPTAIN(N) AND WILL BE APPOINTED COMMANDER CANADIAN SUBMARINE FORCE, IN ESQUIMALT, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) C.A. ROBINSON LIEUTENANT-COLONEL R.L. POINT WAS PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVISOR-SECURITY AND FORCE PROTECTION, AT CANADIAN JOINT OPERATIONS COMMAND, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL B.D. FREI WHO RETIRED LIEUTENANT-COLONEL J.R. POIRIER WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED DIRECTOR WESTERN HEMISPHERE POLICY, AT NDHQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL D.J.J. POITRAS LIEUTENANT-COLONEL S.J.D. POUDRIER WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED DIRECTOR SUSTAINMENT STRATEGY AND READINESS STRATEGIC JOINT STAFF, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL C.A. HEILMAN LIEUTENANT-COLONEL R.D. RAYMOND WAS PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED CHIEF OF STAFF, CANADIAN ARMED FORCES STRATEGIC RESPONSE TEAM � SEXUAL MISCONDUCT (CSRT-SM) COMMANDER J.S. RICHARD WILL BE PROMOTED CAPTAIN(N) AND APPOINTED DEPUTY PROJECT MANAGER – DGMPD(SEA), IN OTTAWA, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) M. THIBAULT LIEUTENANT-COLONEL E.H.J. ROBERDS WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED AND APPOINTED CANADIAN DEFENCE ATTACHE RUSSIA, IN MOSCOW, REPLACING COLONEL S.D. BINDON COMMANDER G.G. ROBERTS WILL BE PROMOTED CAPTAIN(N) AND APPOINTED DIRECTOR DEFENCE FORCE PLANNING, IN NDHQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) J.F.A. BOISJOLI COMMANDER S. SADER WILL BE PROMOTED CAPTAIN(N) AND APPOINTED BASE COMMANDER, CANADIAN FORCES BASE ESQUIMALT, REPLACING CAPTAIN(N) J.R. BOYD LIEUTENANT-COLONEL R. SMITH WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED COMMANDING OFFICER, TASK FORCE EL GORAH, IN EGYPT, REPLACING COLONEL J.D.S. MASSON LIEUTENANT-COLONEL J.D.E. SOUCY WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED CHIEF OF STAFF OF MATERIEL SYSTEMS AND SUPPLY CHAIN DIVISION WITH MATERIAL GROUP, AT NDHQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL C.E.M. DERI LIEUTENANT-COLONEL R.C. TOWNSEND WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED DIRECTOR AIR READINESS AND PLANS, AT NDHQ, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL J.A. MACCAULL COMMANDER L.J.P. TREMBLAY WILL BE PROMOTED ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED CAPTAIN(N) AND APPOINTED CANADIAN DEFENCE ATTACHE IRAQ, IN BAGHDAD, REPLACING COLONEL R.K. CHAMBERLAIN WHO WILL RETIRE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL J.D.S. VEILLETTE WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED AND APPOINTED DEPUTY CHIEF AIR MOBILITY DIVISION, OP FOUNDATION, REPLACING COLONEL ACTING WHILE SO EMPLOYED C.L. ROBIDOUX LIEUTENANT-COLONEL S.A. ZIMA WILL BE PROMOTED COLONEL AND APPOINTED J4 CANADIAN JOINT OPERATIONS COMMAND, IN OTTAWA, REPLACING COLONEL D.A. SMITH IN ADDITION TO THOSE ANNOUNCED AT REF, THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS HAVE RETIRED OR WILL RETIRE IN 2019: COLONEL P.C. ALLAN COLONEL F. BARITEAU CAPTAIN(N) J.R.R. BRISSON CAPTAIN(N) D.A. COLBOURNE COLONEL H.G. COOMBS CAPTAIN(N) J. COUILLARD COLONEL J.M.A. GUEVREMONT COLONEL C.D. HARRIS COLONEL R.A.T. HARVIE CAPTAIN(N) S.E. HOOPER COLONEL J. JARDINE CAPTAIN(N) S. JORGENSEN CAPTAIN(N) S.P. OSBORNE COLONEL D.P. MATSALLA COLONEL C.R. NAMIESNOWSKI COLONEL D.A. ORR COLONEL G. PETROLEKAS COLONEL H.N. SMITH COLONEL K.N. WHITTAKER CAPTAIN(N) D.M.C. YOUNG SENIOR APPOINTMENTS THAT REQUIRE DIPLOMATIC CONCURRENCE OR FURTHER APPROVAL WILL BE COORDINATED AS NECESSARY ALL OFFICERS ARE TO FORWARD AN UPDATED BIOGRAPHY IN FRENCH AND ENGLISH AND AN UPDATED PHOTOGRAPH, AS APPLICABLE, WITH HEAD AND SHOULDERS IN SERVICE DRESS UNIFORM WEARING THEIR NEW RANK TO NDHQ/DSA COORD SIGNED BY GEN J.H. VANCE, CDS https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/gen-vance-announces-new-appointments-of-colonels-and-rcn-captains

  • New Challenge: Covid-19 on Public Transport / Nouveau défi : Covid-19 dans les transports publics

    September 28, 2021 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    New Challenge: Covid-19 on Public Transport / Nouveau défi : Covid-19 dans les transports publics

    New COVID-19 Challenge: Make Public Transportation Safer The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and Transport Canada (TC) are seeking retrofit solutions that reduce airborne hazards and improve air quality within the enclosed spaces encountered by bus and rail travelers in order to improve the resilience to airborne infectious diseases. Think you can solve our new COVID-19 transportation challenge? Compete for funding to prove your feasibility and develop a solution! This challenge closes October 25, 2021 at 2:00pm EDT. Apply online Nouveau défi COVID-19 : Rendre les transports publics plus sécuritaires Le Conseil national de recherches du Canada (CNRC) et Transports Canada (TC) cherchent des solutions de modernisation qui permettront de réduire l'exposition aux contaminants aériens et d'améliorer la qualité de l'air dans les espaces clos fréquentés par les usagers des autobus et des trains afin d'améliorer la résistance aux maladies infectieuses qui se propagent par voie aérienne. Vous pensez pouvoir résoudre notre nouveau défi de transport COVID-19 ? Compétitionnez afin de prouver la faisabilité de votre solution et de la développer ! Ce défi se termine le 25 octobre, 2021 à 14h HAE. Postulez en ligne

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