Dr. Dominique Arel

Dr. Arel is Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Ottawa, Canada. He received his BA from the University of Montreal, his MA from McGill University, and his PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Arel’s interests range from nationalism and language politics to politics of identity and the censuses.

Col Orest Babij, CD (Ret’d)

Colonel Babij served as an intelligence officer in the Canadian Forces for a full career.  He has a Ph D in Military History from Oxford. He is a Ukrainian/Russian military expert and is currently a lecturer at the Canadian Forces College and teaches a course on Russian Foreign Policy at Royal Military College.

LGen Stu Beare (Ret'd)

LGen Stu Beare (Ret'd) served 36 years as an artillery officer in the Canadian Army. His last appointment was as Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command. Over his career, he deployed and served extensively in domestic and international missions including in NATO in Germany, the UN in Cyprus and Croatia, commanding NATO troops in Bosnia, and leading coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Dr. Balkan Devlen

Doctor Devlen is the Director of the Transatlantic Program and Senior Fellow at the MacDonald Laurier Institute. He is also an adjunct research professor at Carleton University. He is a professor, foreign policy analyst, and consultant with over two decades of experience across three continents. 

MGen David Fraser, CMM, MSC, MSM, CD (Ret’d)

David Fraser served for over 31 years in the Canadian Army as an infantry officer. He commanded Op MEDUSA in Afghanistan and later was the Commandant of the Canadian Forces College and subsequently Commander 1^st Canadian Division and Land Force Doctrine and Training System.

LGen Michel Gauthier, CMM, MSC, CD (Ret’d)

Mike Gauthier served for 36 years as a Sapper officer. He commanded 4 Combat Engineer Regiment in Germany and Bosnia. At the height of Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan, he was the first Commander of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command, responsible for all of Canada’s military missions abroad.

MWO Matrin Gratrix, CD

MWO Marty Gratrix has served 23 years in the Royal Canadian Engineers, primarily with 1 CER. He has served in the Format Republic of Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. More recently, he has been involved with setting up Op UNIFIER's Engineer Training Element in Poland. MWO Gratrix is currently serving as the Training Coordinator with the Joint Counter explosive Threat Cell in Army Headquarters.  

Col Brian Irwin, CD (Ret’d)

Brian Irwin had 36 years of service as a Sapper officer. He commanded 2 Combat Engineer Regiment and later was the chief of staff for the policy group in NDHQ. His last posting was as Canada’s Defence Attaché to Ukraine.

BGen Steve Irwin, CD

Steve Irwin completed 42 years as a sapper officer. He commanded 4 Combat Engineer Regiment, the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering, and the Canadian Contingent in the former Yugoslavia. He finished his career serving six years as our Colonel Commandant.

LCol Melanie Lake, CD

LCol Melanie Lake graduated from the Royal Military College in 2002 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. She has served in all three CERs in Canada, culminating as CO of 2 Combat Engineer Regiment. She took command of Operation UNIFIER Roto 11 in Poland in March 2011. She served three tours in Afghanistan.

LGen the Honourable Andy Leslie PC, CMM, MSC, MSM, CD (Ret'd)

Andy Leslie served a full career as an artillery officer and retired as Commander of the Canadian Army in 2011. He served served as Chief Government Whip and Parliamentary Secretary for Canada-US relations for the Trudeau Government from 2015 until he left politics in 2019.

Dr. Christian Leuprecht

Dr. Leuprecht is an expert in security and defence with a Ph.D, from Queen’s University.  He is a professor at both Queen’s and the Royal Military College in Kingston.

Maj David Marcotullio, CD (Ret'd)

Dave Marcotullio served in the Royal Canadian Engineers for 16 years as a Non-Commissioned Officer before being commissioned in 2006. He has deployed on international operations six times, three of which were in Afghanistan. He retired earlier this year and is now the Project Officer in the Centre of Excellence at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering.

Doctor Justin Massie

Dr. Massie is a Professor of political science at the Université du Québec à Montréal, His research focuses on the global power transition, multinational military coalitions, and Canadian foreign and defence policy.

Col Paul Taillon, OMM, CD (Ret’d)

Dr. J. Paul de B. Taillon has over 40 years of academic, intelligence and military experience.  He served as an army reserve officer retiring as a Colonel. Dr. Taillon is an adjunct professor at Royal Military College and a curriculum advisor at the University of Ottawa.