Interview with France Hébert of CAE, 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment, The next frontier in innovation

New Facility for 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment Underway at CFB Kingston

In a new development for Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Kingston, a new facility for the 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment (21 EW Regt) has been announced. Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, representing the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, made the announcement January 13, 2025. The occasion was marked with a groundbreaking ceremony that officially kicked off the construction of the state-of-the-art building.

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Perspective

Canada’s defences: The next frontier in innovation

In a time of heightened strategic competition, compounded especially in the Arctic and North by the effects of climate change, Canada is investing in the modern military capabilities needed to deliver security to Canadians at home and protect Canadians’ interests around the world.

Latest Podcast

Rebuilding Canada’s defence resilience and industry’s role

Interview with France Hébert, Vice-President & General Manager, Defence & Security Canada at CAE

In the latest episode of Vanguard Radio, host J. Richard Jones sits down with France Hébert, Vice-President and General Manager of Defence & Security Canada at CAE. She leads operations across 16 sites with 800 employees. She also serves as President of SkyAlyne and CAE Military Aviation Training, and sits on the boards of CADSI, True Patriot Love, and Invest Ottawa.

With 35 years in defence and aerospace, France has held senior roles in strategy, business development, and operations, achieving success in complex billion-dollar programs. Her career includes service as a Canadian Armed Forces officer and roles at Bombardier, Nortel, and GDMS-C.

France holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Physics) from the Royal Military College of Canada, a Business Administration certificate from McGill University, and a PMP designation.

CAE provides critical expertise and solutions to enhance safety worldwide. As a technology company, it digitalizes the physical world through software-based simulation training and operational support. CAE empowers aviation and defence professionals to excel, especially in high-stakes situations.

With around 13,000 employees across 240+ sites in over 40 countries, CAE boasts over 75 years of industry-leading innovations in flight simulators and digital training programs. Committed to sustainability, CAE ensures its customers are always ready for key moments.

As Canada’s largest defence company, CAE supports national security across NATO and its allies, equipping service members with advanced training and technologies to complete missions safely.

In this episode:

• How CAE is a leader in simulation and training.
• What is CAE's role in SkyAlyne the Future Aircrew Training program contract?
• Is Canada’s 2% GDP contribution to NATO enough?
• What challenges still exist for the CAF and RCAF?
• What are the challenges for General Carignan, the new Chief of the Defence Staff?
• What challenges does the government need to overcome for proper aerospace and defence industrial strategy in Canada?
• And more!

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