The Vanguard Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of Vanguard Radio, host J. Richard Jones sits down with Sheldon Gillis, MSC, CD, CPSP Campaign Lead at Babcock Canada, for a deep and timely conversation about what's next for Canada's submarine future—and why sustainment is just as important as the platform itself.

With over 25 years of distinguished service in the Royal Canadian Navy—including command at sea, operational deployments across the globe, leadership roles in the Arctic, and senior oversight of naval requirements—Sheldon brings unparalleled insight into what it takes to deliver a modern, sovereign, and mission-ready submarine capability.

Together, they explore the major developments shaping the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), including the recently announced Teaming Agreement between Babcock Canada and Hanwha Ocean. This landmark partnership positions Babcock as the exclusive In-Service Support partner to Hanwha Ocean, uniting world-class submarine design and build expertise with Canada's only proven, industry-led submarine sustainment enterprise.

Listeners will hear Sheldon unpack:

·       Why sustainment must be integrated from Day One, in parallel with submarine construction

·       How Babcock's 17 years of experience sustaining the Victoria-class fleet will translate into value, readiness, and reliability for CPSP

·       The advantages of Hanwha Ocean's in-service KSS-III submarine—a platform already operating globally

·       The long-term regional and economic impact CPSP could deliver across Canada, including jobs, innovation, and STEM development

·       What accountability and availability truly mean in designing a future-focused enterprise

·       How Babcock's integrated sustainment approach supports a sovereign, Canadian solution that endures for generations

From operational realities at sea to the industrial partnerships required on land, this is a comprehensive look at how Canada can build not just a submarine fleet—but a lasting national capability.

Whether you're tracking CPSP, following defence industry developments, or simply interested in how major national projects take shape, this episode offers expert insight into one of the most consequential defence procurements of our time.

Tune in to Vanguard Radio for a deep dive into delivering an all-encompassing and sovereign Canadian sustainment solution.

When the stakes are high and the timeline is tight, what does leadership look like?

In this episode of Vanguard Radio, host J. Richard Jones speaks with Paul Knowles, Senior Vice President and District Manager at PCL Construction, whose nearly 30-year career spans some of Canada's most demanding infrastructure projects. From the nation's capital to remote northern installations, PCL's work under Paul's leadership often unfolds in secure, mission-critical environments—where precision, collaboration, and trust aren't just valued, they're essential.

Paul shares his insights into what it takes to deliver complex defence projects under pressure, from balancing transparency with security compliance to fostering collaboration among military, government, and private-sector partners. With a background in civil and construction engineering and decades of experience leading high-performance teams, Paul offers a rare look behind the curtain at how large-scale national projects come together—and the leadership mindset that keeps them on track when the margin for error is razor-thin.

Listeners will hear stories of innovation, contingency planning, and real-time problem solving that define modern defence construction in Canada.

🎙 Key discussion topics include:

• Leading teams when every decision counts
• Balancing transparency and security requirements
• Collaborating across the defence ecosystem
• Innovations driving performance in mission-critical builds
• The future of leadership in Canada's defence infrastructure landscape

Interview with Cheyenne Wicks, General Manager, Military Sector, J-Squared Technologies

In the latest episode of Vanguard Radio, host J. Richard Jones sits down with Cheyenne Wicks, General Manager, Military Sector, J-Squared Technologies. Mr. Wicks is a seasoned, results-oriented professional with extensive business and technology leadership experience. Formerly holding roles at L3Harris and DRS Technologies, he leads strategic research and development for J-Squared's military line of business, encompassing R&D, product design and production, maintenance, repair and operations (MRO), and testing specialties. Cheyenne brings more than 30 years of experience with the Royal Canadian Navy and Communications Security Establishment, Government of Canada, and the defence industry. He holds a master's degree in applied science from the Royal Military College of Canada. 

J-Squared is the leading provider of high-performing embedded computing systems and services built to withstand the harshest environments. For more than 30 years, J-Squared has partnered with prime contractors, OEMs, system builders, and end users for mission-critical applications across the military, energy/resources, transportation and commercial edge AI sectors. J-Squared provides cradle to cradle support — with in-house design, environmental testing, deployment, product lifecycle management, maintenance and repair, and support. Land, air, and sea solutions are created to the highest standards, including MIL-SPEC certifications, while software offerings meet today's exacting AI and ML challenges.

 In this episode:

• What is lacking in Canada's supply chain infrastructure?
• How it can be fixed.
• How technology is being employed in the supply chain.
• The need for tech alliances and international cooperation.
• What needs to be done in the military to embrace supply chain changes?
• How US/Canada relations are affecting supply chains. 
• And more!

As a family-owned Canadian business, Thordon Bearings Inc. has made a mark on the international scene by designing and manufacturing non-polluting bearing systems in the marine and clean power generation industries. The 100-year old company has an international network of agents, distributors and regional sales representatives in 90 countries, its stellar marketing support providing high performance, oil and grease-free bearing systems, seals and other shaft line products.

Thordon Bearings Inc. is a true Canadian success story. In this episode of Vanguard Radio, J. Richard Jones talks with George A. 'Sandy' Thomson, Innovator at Thordon Bearings Inc.

Serge Carignan, Superintendent, Quality Engineering Test Establishment at the Department of National Defence will be speaking at ShipTech Forum 2020. In this episode of Vanguard, Serge shares some of the highlights of what he will be speaking, his experience and his role at DND.

Serge joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1979 and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1984. After completing initial training in Borden, he served in various maintenance organizations in Canada and Germany. He was also the Commanding Officer of 5 Service Battalion and deployed to Afghanistan in 2004. Serge Carignan has been the Superintendent of the Quality Engineering Test Establishment since 2012, responsible for failure investigations, and specialized test and evaluation for the Canadian Armed Forces.

Vanguard's ShipTech Forum will take place on Feb 25 at The Westin in Ottawa. As a one-day conference, ShipTech brings together members of industry, government, and military to share knowledge and lessons learned from a technological perspective to showcase successful investments in cutting-edge technologies for the shipbuilding and marine industries.

To learn more about ShipTech Forum 2020, visit vanguardcanada.com/shiptech2020. We have a few seats remaining, register today to hear more from Serge Carignan and other speakers.

As Canada continues to ramp up for the execution of the Future Aircrew Training program (FAcT), the shortlist of qualified suppliers is getting ready for the release of the RFP. One such supplier is Lockheed Martin Canada.

In this episode of Vanguard Radio, J. Richard Jones talks with Amy Gowder, Vice President and General Manager for Lockheed Martin's Training and Logistics Solutions line of business within the Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) business area about their capabilities and what they can offer to Canada if selected for FAcT.

In her current role, Amy is responsible for the execution and strategic growth of Lockheed Martin's mission readiness and sustainment programs with more than 5,400 employees around the globe. Before joining RMS, Amy served as Vice President of Supply Chain Management for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. In this role, she was responsible for developing and implementing acquisition policies and strategies for all Lockheed Martin Aeronautics lines of business and oversaw a procurement budget of approximately $10B annually. She was also the President & General Manager of Lockheed Martin's Commercial Engine Solutions, with locations in San Antonio, Texas, and Montreal, Canada where she was responsible for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of 11 engine product lines that powered more than 15 military and commercial aircraft.

Learn more about Lockheed Martin's development and delivery of integrated, performance-based military training solutions, the full scope of the FAcT program in Canada, similarities of other global training programs to FAcT, how to partner with Lockheed Martin or become a potential supplier for this program, ITBs and what sets Lockheed Martin Canada apart for this training program.

To learn more, go to: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-ca/future-aircrew-training-fact.html. 

The legal, intelligence and ethical perspectives of surveillance along with a focus on its associated opportunities and challenges will be discussed at C4ISR and Beyond 2020, taking place on January 28 in Ottawa.

This panel will be moderated by LGen D. Michael Day (Ret'd). In this episode of Vanguard Radio, Day shares a teaser of what we can expect from this discussion. The panelists will tackle the complications associated with the legal, intelligence and ethical perspectives for ISR so that industry can build capabilities with these considerations "baked" in.

LGen D. Michael Day (Ret'd) joined the Canadian Forces in 1983 and had the privilege of serving and commanding within his Regiment. He spent the majority of his career as an Operator within Canada's Counter Terrorist and Special Forces community commanding both Joint Task Force Two ( JTF 2) & Canada's Special Operations Forces Command. He was deployed operationally to Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Afghanistan and was responsible for the preparation, training, and oversight of NATO's Response Force, with distributed command throughout Europe.

He has served in a variety of Senior Staff appointments including the Canadian Armed Forces Senior Military Officer in the Defence Policy Group, and the Chief Strategic Planner for the CAF where he also oversaw the development of the Department of National Defence's Space and Cyber Programs. After retiring in September 2015, he began consulting with many companies, with a particular focus on the Tech Sector specifically ISR, Space and Cyber. 

The panelists:

Jessica Davis, President & Principal Consultant, Insight Threat Intelligence

Leah West, Lecturer of International Affairs at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University

Stephanie Carvin, Assistant Professor Assistant Professor of International Affairs - National Security Issues, Terrorism, Critical Infrastructure Protection, International Law, Humanitarianism, Foreign Policy, Carleton University

Hear more about this panel, the speakers and what they will be talking about, some of the takeaways and why you should attend C4ISR and Beyond 2020.  

We have a few seats remaining. Be sure to register today!

Post-traumatic stress disorder or as is commonly called, PTSD, is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some of the symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about a terrifying event.

Some who have gone through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. Symptoms can sometimes get worse, last for months or even years, and may interfere with day-to-day functioning.

By getting effective treatment after PTSD symptoms develop is critical in reducing symptoms and improve function.

In this episode of Vanguard Radio, J. Richard Jones talks with LCol Chris Linford (Ret'd) who served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 33 years. During his service, he completed three operational deployments - The Gulf War in 1991, Rwanda in 1994, and Afghanistan from 2009-2010.

In 2004, he was diagnosed with PTSD. With proper treatment, he returned to health and went back out serving his country. While serving in Afghanistan, his PTSD returned. This led to him writing a book about his experience - "Warrior Rising- A Soldier's Journey to PTSD and Back" which was published in 2013. 

Today, he and his wife Kathryn are National Ambassadors of Wounded Warriors Canada, a national charity providing innovative programming for veterans and first responders with PTSD and their spouses/partners. They are actively involved in promoting Wounded Warriors Canada programs called "COPE" or Couples Overcoming PTSD Every Day and the Trauma Resiliency Program or TRP. 

Tune in to listen to LCol Linford's story. His years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces, PTSD, the specific event that caused it, getting better, the return of PTSD, and the impact on his family. He shares tips to help those suffering from PTSD, Wounded Warriors' COPE and TRP programs and their impact and how someone who is suffering from PTSD can be a part of these programs. 

You can help support these programs and the work that Wounded Warriors Canada is doing by donating at WoundedWarriors.ca or subscribe to Vanguard magazine, the organisation behind this podcast. We recently partnered with Wounded Warriors Canada to give a portion of each subscription to our bi-monthly magazine to them to help support Canada's ill and injured Armed Forces members, veterans, first responders, and their families.

Go to vanguardcanada.com/subscription, to subscribe today to help support a great cause. 

Wounded Warriors Canada, a leading mental health service provider for ill and injured Veterans, First Responders and their families and Vanguard, a leading security and defence publication in Canada are working together to raise awareness, education and funds to ensure those who serve our country at home and abroad receive the mental health support they deserve in their time of need.

In this episode of Vanguard Radio, hear from Terri Pavelic, Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard and Scott Maxwell, Executive Director of Wounded Warriors Canada as they explain how this program was conceived, the benefits that it will provide to our wounded heroes and how you can participate.

By taking a subscription to Vanguard magazine, you will be supporting wounded heroes. A portion of all subscriptions will be donated to Wounded Warriors Canada. To learn more about the program, go here and to start subscribing to Vanguard magazine, visit http://www.vanguardcanada.com/subscription.

The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project was talked about and debated for a number of years. Today, the contract has been awarded and work will commence in the early 2020s with an expected delivery of the first of 15 ships by mid-2020s.

In February 2019, the Government of Canada confirmed that the bid from Lockheed Martin Canada has been selected for the design of CSC, which is based on the BAE Systems Type 26 Global Combat Ship.

Lockheed Martin Canada is partnering with BAE Systems, CAE, L3 Technologies, MDA and Ultra Electronics in offering the Royal Canadian Navy an advanced and modern warship design. Part of this solution includes Lockheed Martin Canada's internationally renowned and Canadian-developed combat management system, the CMS 330.

Today on Vanguard Radio, we are excited to talk with Gary Fudge, Vice President & General Manager of Lockheed Martin Canada about CSC and CMS 330.

Hear about Lockheed Martin Canada's innovation in this space going all the way back to the 1980s. Learn more about some of the innovative projects that were done over the years, the genesis of the CMS 330,the upgrades that were made to keep this solution current with the times, how this technology is being used by other navies, areas that are being considered to advance the CMS 330, new innovative technologies for CSC, and some of the next steps in the CSC process?

To learn more about Lockheed Martin Canada, go to https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-ca/cms330.html