Go Bold with Joetey Attariwala

We are proud to welcome back to the Go Bold podcast Colonel Chris Horner, a senior officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).We first featured Colonel Horner in Episode 69, where he shared his memories of serving in the Afghanistan theatre, and that was to honour the 10 year mark of Canada's withdrawal from that country. If you haven't heard it, you're missing out on a great chat, so I strongly recommend you tune in to Episode 69 for that discussion.Our focus for this episode is the Canadian Joint Warfare Centre (CJWC) where Colonel Horner is the Commanding Officer.The Canadian Joint Warfare Centre is a centre of excellence that assists the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in finding ways to operate as a Joint Force to face the ever-evolving operational environment by implementing best practices, novel concepts and accelerating the adoption of available and emerging tools and technologies.Part of the reason of doing this is because the Canadian Armed Forces, and allied militaries for that matter, need to be able to quickly and efficiently absorb data, like that from Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets, among others, and be able to process, exploit and disseminate it to the Joint Force.If some of that sounds familiar, then you have likely heard our last 2 episodes (Episodes 77 and 78), where we had the great pleasure to speak with Brigadier-General Andy Clark, the Commanding General of NATO's ISR Force.Those two episodes are some of the most informative you will hear about the capabilities of NATO's ISR Force, and they are a wonderful precursor to this episode about the Canadian Joint Warfare Centre, which works around a core of Command, Control and Intelligence.Colonel Horner does a fantastic job to explain the multi-domain challenges faced by the Joint Force and how the Canadian Joint Warfare Centre has a number of initiatives which are focused on the goal of continually preparing the Canadian Armed Forces to be better able to achieve operational effects across the full spectrum of conflict.You'll hear about Canadian Joint Warfare Center experimentation activities which includes collaboration with NATO and Allies. Examples include wargaming in the Space domain; and wargaming and modeling and simulation on the future of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems for the Royal Canadian Air Force.All said, the efforts of the Canadian Joint Warfare Centre are about evolving doctrine and enabling the Joint Force to make decisions faster than adversaries.This is an incredibly fascinating discussion, so I want to thank Colonel Horner for his time and insight on CJWC's march towards decision superiority.We also congratulate Colonel Horner on his recent promotion to Brigadier-General!Go Bold!

In our last episode we introduced you to Brigadier-General Andy Clark, the Commanding General of the NATO ISR Force, which is headquartered in Sigonella, Sicily.We spoke about the formation and makeup of the NATO ISR Force, which as one would understand with an active war in Europe, is experiencing tasking demand that is greater today than ever before.In this episode we continue our exclusive chat with General Clark as we speak about the NATO ISR Force and its RQ-4D Phoenix high-altitude long endurance uninhabited aerial vehicle, and its Synthetic Aperture Radar and Moving Target Indicator technology.We talk about how the autonomous aircraft is operated and how it is tasked. We also discuss synergy with similar aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and the United States Navy.We also talk about training, and the future of the NATO ISR Force, and we get some insight on what the General is thinking for the future of the capability that he is focused on.The two episodes with General Clark are arguably some of the most detailed and insightful perspectives you will find on the NATO ISR Force, so we hope you enjoy these conversations and we hope you will come away with a true appreciation for the organization, its capabilities, and a sense of what the future may hold. I want to thank Brigadier-General Clark for his time, kindness and insight. Go Bold!

In keeping with our focus to bring you senior military leaders from Allied Forces, we are very proud to welcome to this episode, Brigadier-General Andy Clark, a United States Air Force General who is currently serving as the Commanding General of the NATO ISR Force (NISRF).(ISR = Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance).Having General Clark as a guest is a true honor as I've found him to be a wonderfully personable leader who is forthright and passionate in his remit.My exclusive chat with General Clark spanned two wide ranging conversations, so in this episode you'll hear a bit about his operational history, but the majority of our chat focuses on NATO's ISR Force, which some may remember by its previous name of the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Force.The NATO ISR Force currently has 25 member nations active in the organization, and it operates a fleet of five RQ-4D Phoenix high-altitude long endurance uninhabited aerial system aircraft. These aircraft are fitted with a Synthetic Aperture Radar, and Moving Target Indicator technology. The ISR information that these platforms collect, along with other contributions, are processed and made available to all 32 member nations of the NATO Alliance.I'm particularly honored to have the privilege to speak with General Clark as 2024 marks the 75 Anniversary for NATO, which arguably has a renewed focus on defence of the Alliance in light of Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Since that time, NATO's ISR Force has become increasingly important in generating ISR data for the Alliance.You'll hear all about that and much more in this episode and in the next as there are many aspects about NATO's ISR Force that we discussed.These episodes are incredibly informative so I want to thank Brigadier-General Clark for his time, kindness and insight.Go Bold!

It is the eve of the 2024 iteration of RIMPAC -- the Rim of the Pacific exercise -- which is hosted by the United States Navy.RIMPAC is the biggest naval exercise in the world and it is held primarily in the waters around Hawaii. RIMPAC 2024 will see 29 nations, 40 ships and numerous aircraft participate. One of those ships is His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Max Bernays, the newest ship in Canada's Pacific Fleet.HMCS Max Bernays is a Harry DeWolf class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV). These ships operate primarily in a constabulary role and have the ability to carry out a number of missions.At approximately 6,500 tons, Canada's AOPVs have a lot of capability with their special spaces, large quarterback, large flight deck, and the ability to operate in first year sea ice. Being a new class of ship means that they are not without issues however, so we will discuss some of them in this episode.What's not commonly known however are some of the operating limitations that exist due to the lengthy process to certify capabilities for the class.Joining me to speak about the Royal Canadian Navy's participation in RIMPAC 2024 is Commodore David Mazur, the Commander of Canada's Pacific Fleet. It is ships under his command that are participating in RIMPAC, They are: HMCS Max Bernays, HMCS Vancouver, and the Combat Support Ship MV Asterix.  Our focus of this episode is to discuss the rationale for the Navy to deploy HMCS Max Bernays to RIMPAC 2024 -- it will be the first of Canada's new AOPVs to take part in the exercise -- and to discuss the process to configure the ship to best contribute to the exercise. You'll learn that there is a lot of forethought to this decision, and much effort to unlock capability in the ship. In doing so, the Canadian Pacific Fleet is unlocking capability for the entire Harry DeWolf class.Our chat took place on 18 June 2024, the day that HMCS Max Bernays set sail for Hawaii. This episode is a fascinating discussion with candid perspective, so I'm confident you will come away from this episode with a better understanding of Canada's Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels, and an appreciation for a senior military leader who I have great respect for.My thanks to Commodore David Mazur for his time, insight and candor.Go Bold!

This episode is a continuation of Episode 74, where were chatting with Lieutenant-Colonel Marc Kieley, G35, Section Head of Operational Plans for the Canadian Army. Our last episode provided amazing insight on Canada's growing mission in Latvia, which is in support of NATO efforts to strengthen the Eastern flank of the Alliance in the wake of Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. As one would expect, the mission centers on land forces, and Colonel Kieley did a wonderful job to help define the mission and how it is growing.We spoke about the evolution of the Army's major training exercise, and reasons for pivoting that to Europe.We pick up from our last episode with Lieutenant-Colonel Keiley speaking about Urgent Operational Requirements for the Army, which includes anti-armour weapon systems, ground-based air defence systems, counter-UAS systems, and so much more!We also discuss the Army's combat vehicle fleet, which includes the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) 6.0, the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV), and Leopard tanks. In addition, we discuss the logistics fleet including mention of the Logistics Vehicle Modernization project and the resurrection of the Army's Armoured Heavy Support Vehicle Systems (AHSVS) fleet.We also discuss how the Canadian Army is evolving with a view to embrace new capabilities and new concept of operations.These two episodes (74 and 75) are some of the most detailed and forthright perspectives one will hear about the Canadian Army, and is a clear example of the wonderful, professional leader that LtCol Kieley is.I am confident listeners will come come away from these two episodes with a much better understanding of the Canadian Army, and its focus for the immediate future.I want to thank LtCol Kieley for his time and insight.Go Bold!

I am thrilled to welcome back to the podcast, Lieutenant-Colonel Marc Kieley of the Canadian Army. We previously featured Colonel Keiley in Episode 65 where he was kind to share his memories and reflections on combat deployments in Afghanistan.For this episode, Colonel Kieley is speaking in his position as the Army's G35, and that means he is the Section Head for Operational Plans for the Canadian Army.In our wide-ranging discussion, we discuss the structure of the Army, its capabilities, signature training exercises, and we delve into the vehicles and weapon systems that the Army utilizes, and what it might need moving forward.Our chat focuses heavily on the Army's plans for its growing presence in Latvia, which is its biggest commitment and therefore the most important driver of operational plans for the Army.The mission in Latvia is in support of NATO's efforts to strengthen the Eastern flank of the Alliance in the wake of Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.We discuss the Canadian Armed Forces current posture in Latvia, and what is planned for its growth from a Canadian-led multinational Battlegroup to a Canadian-led multinational Brigade.The Colonel also shares how the evolution of this mission is leading the Army to shift its major training event from Canada to Europe.Our conversation provides some of the best insight into the Army of today and the immediate future so I can assure you that you will not find more detailed information, along with context, than you will here!This is Part 1 of our 2 episode chat, so please look for our next episode where we continue our chat with Lieutenant-Colonel Kieley to discuss Operational Planning for the Canadian Army, including vehicles, weapon systems and Urgent Operational Requirements for the Army.Our thanks to Lieutenant-Colonel Kieley for his time and insight on the Canadian Army.Go Bold!

The Canadian Coast Guard operates a fleet of vessels ranging from large ice breakers to small rescue boats. Arguably the most unique in the fleet are the hovercraft that the service operates.There are four hovercraft in service with the Canadian Coast Guard. Two are based in Eastern Canada, and two are based in British Columbia.Hovercraft are incredibly versatile platforms. In the military, the best known examples are the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), which are operated by the United States Navy. These hovercraft are used by well deck-equipped amphibious landing ships, Expeditionary Sea Base, and Expeditionary Transfer Docks to transport large vehicles and cargo to shore. The US Navy LCACs are being replaced by the Ship to Shore Connector, which is also known at the LCAC 100 class. These newer generation craft will offer a number of improvements including more powerful and efficient engines, and increased capacity to cope with the growing weight of equipment used by the United States Marine Corps, Navy and Army.In Canada, I had the privilege to go aboard the Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft Moytel when it was in Victoria, British Columbia, and I had the pleasure to speak with Paul Tobin, the Officer in Command.In this episode you will hear about the capabilities of the hovercraft Moytel, and future plans for the capability -- those plans are part of the Canadian Coast Guards fleet renewal plan, which in part calls for the acquisition of four new Air Cushion Vehicles (ACV), which are otherwise known as hovercraft. The new Canadian Coast Guard ACVs will be designed with fully modernized systems, and a propulsion system integrating green technologies to reduce carbon emissions.The procurement of the four ACVs falls under the Small Vessels construction pillar of Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy, and it is expected that all four ACVs will be delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard starting in 2030.I want to thank Paul Tobin of the Canadian Coast Guard for his time and kindness, and I want to thank him and his crew for the great tour of the hovercraft Moytel.You can see the Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft Moytel on our YouTube channel -- search for "Go Bold with Joetey Attariwala" and please like and subscribe so you don't miss any of our great videos!Go Bold!

Many of us who follow aerospace and defence pay a lot of attention to the war in Ukraine, and particularly new tactics and capabilities.Our episode today is an effort to discuss the transformation that the Ukrainian Air Force is making from former Soviet Union or Russian aircraft to western fighter aircraft.Ukraine has been defending themselves against Russian forces since they invaded Crimea in 2014, and then re-attacked in early 2022.At the start of the war Ukraine had around 125 warplanes. Reports indicate that have lost around 80 jets, but numbers of aircraft have been bolstered by the donation of similar types of aircraft from some of the former Soviet states. There is no doubt that Ukrainian pilots have performed heroically against overwhelming odds. With that said, the Ukrainian Air Force has faced significant challenges with aging fleets of aircraft and sustainment issues which make their fleets increasingly difficult to field.Ukraine has therefore spent many months lobbying for western combat aircraft, especially F-16's, which they believe will help them better defend their country.A number of countries like Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands and Norway, have pledged F-16s to Ukraine; and Ukrainian Air Force pilots have been training in a number of countries to get proficient on flying the western jet, with Denmark being one of those countries.For this episode, I thought it would be informative to get a sense of what Ukrainian pilots are experiencing as they transition to a new platform like the F-16.To do this I am pleased to introduce a wonderful friend to me and to this podcast, fighter pilot Nick Graham, who flew the Tornado F3 and the Eurofighter Typhoon in the Royal Air Force (RAF), and also the F-16 when on exchange in Denmark.I've asked Nick to participate in this chat because his experience of learning to fly the F-16 in Denmark provides excellent insight on what Ukrainian pilots are experiencing as they shift from MiG and Sukhoi aircraft to the F-16.I am very thankful to Nick for taking the time to share his professional fighter pilot experience, and his insight and perspectives on this topic.We wish Ukraine success in their fight to defend their country!Go Bold!

2024 marks the 110th Anniversary of the Canadian Submarine Force, so I thought its appropriate to honor this milestone by talking about Canadian submarines and their amazing capabilities with my guest, Royal Canadian Navy Captain Alex Kooiman, the Commander of the Canadian Submarine Force.Submarines are high-value strategic platforms. They are incredibly complex, and they utilize stealth and deceptive tactics to carry out their roles -- these include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, mine warfare, land attack, multi-spectrum intelligence operations, special forces support, and so much more. Getting to the point to employ these capabilities takes many years of training and specialization, which you will learn in this episode.Canada operated the Oberon-class submarines from the 1960s to the 1990s, after which the service brought into service 4 Victoria-class diesel-electric submarines, which are former Upholder class subs from the Royal Navy. These submarines have been challenging to support, but they provide incredible capability to the Navy when deployed.You can see inside Canada's Victoria-class submarines on our Go Bold YouTube channel, where we were privileged to visit with the crew of HMCS Corner Brook. We have two videos on there where you'll get an appreciation for what its like to be a submariner in the Royal Canadian Navy.Canada has now begun the process to acquire new conventional submarines through the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, so we will highlight that program in future episodes of Go Bold.For this episode you will get a sense of the process to become a submariner, and also a commanding officer of a front line attack submarine as Captain Kooiman shares his journey in the Royal Canadian Navy, and his experiences on exchange with allies. I want to thank Captain Kooiman for his time and kindness, and we look forward to having him back on Go Bold in the near future.Happy 110th Anniversary to the Canadian Submarine Force!Go Bold!

In this episode I have the honor to speak with Major Brent Handy, of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).Maj. Handy is fighter pilot and instructor pilot, and he is currently the Boss of 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, which is better known as the Snowbirds Air demonstration team.The Snowbirds are truly ironic, and they are world renowned for the majestic 9 aircraft formation and aerobatic routines that they perform all over North America. The team is tasked with representing the Royal Canadian Air Force, and in fact the entirety of the Canadian Armed Forces, and 2024 is an extra special year as this is the 100th Anniversary of the RCAF!I'm thrilled that we have Maj. Handy as a guest to speak about service, flying fighter jets, and leading the Snowbirds team for 2024. You'll hear us discuss the CT-114 Tutor aircraft that the Snowbirds fly, modernizing that aircraft, and the hurdles the team faces. We also discuss the future of the team.It's a great chat with a leader who is kind, pragmatic and sincere, so I hope you enjoy our conversation. I guarantee you will find it interesting and you'll learn a lot.Our thanks to Maj. Handy for the time he spent with us.Go Bold!

It has been 10 years since Canada withdrew from Afghanistan, so to commemorate that milestone we invited senior leaders of the Canadian Armed Forces to reminisce on experiences and lessons learned from combat in Afghanistan.In Episode 64 we had the privilege to speak with Major-General Mike St-Louis, and in Episode 65 with Lieutenant-Colonel Marc Kieley, both of whom are senior leaders in the Canadian Army. They were great conversations with wonderful perspectives, so I highly encourage you to listen to those discussions.For this episode, I am very happy to welcome another great leader, and that is Colonel Chris Horner of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Colonel Horner's experience in Afghanistan is from a different perspective from that of his Army colleagues because he was thousands of feet above the ground while on exchange with the United States Air Force (USAF), where he was serving as an Air Battle Manager on a E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft of the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron.It's a perspective one doesn't hear too often in the context of counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan, but it is significant because what he and his colleagues did in the air had very real significance to those on the ground.You'll find the Colonels reflections forthright, informative and at times emotional, and our conversation delved into dealing with adversity and leadership lessons that ensued.We also discuss the recent Defence Policy Update which was released by the Government of Canada, which outlines plans to acquire an airborne early warning capability. It's a wonderful perspective on that capability.I want to recognize that Colonel Horner is serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, which this year is celebrating its 100th Anniversary, so if you haven't heard Episode 67, you'll definitely want to hear that as well because we had the privilege to speak with Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force. It was a great chat where we discussed all about the RCAF of today and the RCAF of the future! It's a great chat that you do not want to miss!I'm very thankful to Colonel Horner for the time he spent with me, and for his candid reflections about serving during combat operations in Afghanistan. Go Bold!

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of Operation Allied Force, the NATO aerial bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The air strikes lasted from 24 March 1999 to 10 June 1999.Joining for this episode is retired Lieutenant-Colonel Billie Flynn, who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) for 23 years. In 1984 Flynn was selected to be a pipeliner for the RCAF's new CF-18 Hornet fighter, and ultimately rose in the ranks to become the Commanding Officer of 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron.During his time as Commanding Officer, Colonel Flynn also served as the Commander of Task Force Aviano, the unit of the Canadian Armed Forces that implemented Operation Echo in support of Operation Allied Force; it was there that he led the formation of the "Balkan Rats" and flew combat missions over Kosovo and the former Republic of Yugoslavia.The Task Force Aviano combat unit received Battle Honours from Queen Elizabeth II, the first such distinction for a Canadian fighting unit since World War II.Flynn's 40+ year flying experience includes fighter and test pilot service with the RCAF, the United States Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and NASA. After retiring from the RCAF, Flynn flew as a civilian test pilot for the Eurofighter Typhoon, and later flew as a Senior Test Pilot for the F-35.In this episode you will hear Colonel Flynn's first hand perspective about the RCAF's large fighter force (18 CF-18 jets) which conducted combat operations during Operation Allied Force. He describes the genesis of the "Balkan Rats" and how he and the RCAF fighter force executed on their taskings, and all told flew on 10% of all bombing missions. Flynn also shares his memory of being in the Combined Air Operations Center during the rescue of Vega 31, the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter (actually an attack aircraft) that was shot down on 27 Match 1999.It's a fascinating first-hand perspective on the RCAF's fighter force during Operation Allied Force. We publish this episode to commemorate and honor their service.Go Bold!

It's 1 April, and this day marks 100 years of the Royal Canadian Air Force! To mark this occasion, I am proud to welcome our guest, Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).I am honored that the General spent time to speak about his motivation to serve, and speak about the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Centennial celebrations, and the seismic modernization that the Force has embarked on.In this episode you will hear about the challenges faced by the RCAF, the threat vectors as seen by the General, and you will get a detailed appreciation for the new fleets of aircraft and capabilities the RCAF will soon induct into service.We chat about how the Air Force needs to adapt to ever-changing threat environment and how the Force needs to adopt long-range and precision guided stand-off munitions to counter threats on land and at sea.You'll also hear the General's thoughts on the future of the RCAF beyond 2035.This is a must-hear, fascinating and wide-ranging discussion from the Commanding General that leads the Royal Canadian Air Force.Our thanks to Lieutenant-General Kenny for the time he spent with us. Happy 100th Anniversary to the RCAF!Go Bold!

Our podcast is unique in that we regularly feature senior military leaders from Allied Forces, and this episode continues that trend with our guest, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant-General Ben Hodges.General Hodges is a graduate of the West Point Military Academy, and in recent years has been Senior Advisor to Human Rights First, and also serves as NATO Senior Mentor for Logistics. He previously held the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis.I first met Lieutenant-General Hodges in Portugal when he was serving as the Commanding General for US Army Europe. He was kind to extend time to me then, and is continuing that kindness as a guest for this episode where we discuss service in the context of his time in uniform.A notable part of our discussion focuses on the events from Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait, the site of a fatal grenade attack which killed soldiers and left the General with shrapnel wounds.. You'll hear the General describe what happened that night and the chain of events which he said saved his life.We then shift our focus to the war in Ukraine, which General Hodges is eminently qualified to comment on since much of his career was focused on Europe and NATO. We discuss Ukraine's efforts to fight off the Russian invasion, and how allies are postured to repel further Russian aggression with NATO's enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroups and Brigades. The General also shares his thoughts on land warfare as it is evolving from Ukraine, and things that allies could do to help in that effort.It's a wonderful discussion with a globally recognized military expert, so we hope you find our discussion informative.My thanks to Lieutenant-General Hodges for his time, insight and kindness.Go Bold!(Note: Our discussion took place on 18 March 2024)

We are very happy to welcome another great leader, Lieutenant-Colonel Marc Kieley of the Canadian Army to share his reflections as we continue to mark the 10th Anniversary of Canada's withdrawal from Afghanistan.Colonel Kieley joined the Army as a direct entry officer, and I can tell you that he is one of the most conscientious, intelligent and engaging Army leaders that I know, so I am thankful for the extended time that he shared.You'll hear Colonel Kieley describe his experiences in Afghanistan with a theme characterized by friction.The Colonel shares a spectrum of experiences ranging from the comical, like an EOD team blowing up their own weapon, to the serious where a suspected IED bomber who may have killed a Canadian soldier is captured.I am very confident you will find the Colonel's reflections interesting and informative, and particularly insightful as we discuss the type of foundational lessons to retain from the counterinsurgency operation, and how that differs from the current need to focus on peer adversaries.The Colonel also shares his perspective on the outcome of the counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan, which I think is thoughtful and measured, and important to hear. You'll also hear the Colonel share one of his most important lessons in leadership and sending people into harms way.This is a must hear episode, so we thank Lieutenant-Colonel Marc Kieley for the time he shared with us. We thank him and all his colleagues for their service.Go Bold!****************For active or retired service members who are listening and feel that you need some help or support, please reference the following contact numbers, and please remember that there is no shame in asking for help as these resources are here for you.In Canada: A confidential and free service available 24/7 to Veterans, former RCMP members, their family members, and caregivers. Call 1-800-268-7708.In the US: For the Military Crisis Line / Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, dial 988 then press 1, or access online chat by texting 838255.In the UK: Samaritans provides a 24/7 safe place to talk about anything that's bothering you. Tel: 116 123Also in the UK, Combat Stress/Rethink offer a 24 hour freephone helpline if you have concerns about your mental health. The number to call is 0800 138 1619. They provide emotional support, a listening ear and signposting service.

One of our goals at this podcast is to preserve the memory of Allied and Coalition forces, so this episode is particularly poignant as we mark the 10th Anniversary of Canada's withdrawal from Afghanistan (which occurred on 12 March).For this episode I am honored to welcome back Major-General Michel-Henri St-Louis, a Canadian Army General who is currently serving as the Canadian Defence Attache to the United States, and a warfighter who served in Afghanistan.Major-General St-Louis is an Infantry officer who holds 3 masters degrees focused on war studies, military history, and strategy and defence. He has deployed on 5 overseas missions including Bosnia, Croatia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East.Notable highlights of the General's career include being the Commander of Operation Impact; Commander of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Center; Deputy Commanding General for Operations for the US Army's First Corps; and serving for an extended period as the acting Commander of the Canadian Army and Chief of the Army Staff.Major-General St-Louis has attended the U.S. Capstone Leadership Program and is a graduate of the National War College in Washington, DC; and he is also an Officer within the Legion of Merit in the United States.I have had the privilege to meet the General on numerous occasions over the years, and I know him to be a kind, professional and passionate leader who genuinely cares about the people and mission of the Canadian Army and the Canadian Armed Forces in which he serves.Major-General St-Louis' first tour in Afghanistan was in February 2006 as part of the Strategic Advisory Team (SAT), which brought together a team of strategic advisors for Afghanistan. His second deployment in Afghanistan was from November 2010 to July 2011, where he commanded the last Canadian battle group that conducted combat operations in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar Province.The focus of this episode is to chat about the General's experiences in Afghanistan, reflect on this milestone anniversary, and chat about lessons learned.We want to thank Major-General St-Louis for the time he extended to us and we thank him for his continued service to the country. We also thank and recognize all those that served in uniform in Afghanistan, and we pay respect to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. You are not forgotten.Similarly, we want to thank the Afghan people who sided with Coalition Forces in hope of a better life, and in particular those who fought side-by-side with Coalition Forces, and their families, many of whom live in fear today. You went Bold, and you should never be forgotten.

Our guest is Commander Vince Pellerin, the Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg, a Halifax-class surface combatant warship of the Royal Canadian Navy.Our chat took place while on board HMCS Winnipeg, which at the time was acting as the command ship during the recent Exercise Trident Fury, the largest Canadian-led exercise hosted by Maritime Forces Pacific.We discussed the exercise, but the bulk of our conversation focused on a new training model that the Royal Canadian Navy was exploring in order to expedite the professional development of its sailors. Part of that effort included a different crewing model on HMCS Winnipeg to facilitate its training mandate. That model could have implications for the future Canadian Surface Combatant warships.We also had the opportunity to discuss digital transformation and what that means for the Navy today and into the future.I want to thank Commander Pellerin for sharing his perspective on service, leadership, and topics in the naval domain. Go Bold!

Our guest is Royal Canadian Navy Lieutenant Steve Oxley, who is the Operations Officer on HMCS Winnipeg, making him third in command of that front line surface combatant warship.Our discussion for this episode specifically focuses on a major incident that occurred aboard HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509), a replenishment oiler that was a part of the Royal Canadian Navy's Pacific Fleet. Protecteur's primary role was to deliver supplies (fuel, aviation fuel, dry goods, and ammunition) to deployed ships.The incident was a major engine room fire which occurred on 27 February 2014, when Protecteur was 340 nautical miles northeast of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.LT Oxley was a Sub-Lieutenant on HMCS Protecteur at the time, and he kindly agreed to share his memories of that harrowing event. There are some great perspectives in this episode -- you'll hear what happened, you'll hear about the emergency stations response, you'll hear about bravery, off-the-cuff ingenuity, leadership, allied support, and so much more.Our discussion references some U.S. Navy ships that were dispatched to help HMCS Protectuer, and they are: USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), USS Chosin (CG 65) and USNS Sioux (T-ATF 171).The chat also makes reference to AFFF, which stands for Aqueous Film Forming Foam.We are publishing this episode on the 10 year mark since the incident occurred. Our thanks to LT Oxley for his kindness and time in sharing his memories so we can help preserve that history and acknowledge the bravery exhibited by everyone that was serving aboard the ship that day.Go Bold!

The Go Bold podcast features senior leaders of allied forces so we can bring personal insight to important topics and events, and preserve those voices for generations to come.Today's episode continues on our objectives as we are honored to welcome Royal Canadian Air Force Colonel Jeremy Hansen to Go Bold! Col. Hansen is a CF-18 Hornet fighter pilot, and he is one of only 4 active astronauts in the Canadian Space Agency.In the years ahead you'll hear a lot about Astronaut Hansen because he has been selected to fly on the Artemis II mission, which will be the first crewed flight test of the Orion spacecraft which will launch atop the SLS rocket.As part of the Artemis II crew, Jeremy Hansen will become the first Canadian to venture towards the Moon, and in doing so he will be the first non-American to leave low earth orbit.There is a lot to Astronaut Hansen's path to space as one might expect, but in short, here are some highlights:In 1988, at the age of 12, he joined the Air Cadets.In 1999 he graduated with a bachelor's degree in honours space science from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario.He completed Fighter Pilot Training in 2003, after which he served as a CF-18 fighter pilot with 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron, and 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron.In 2009 Colonel Hansen was one of two recruits selected by the Canadian Space Agency.In 2011 he graduated from Astronaut Candidate Training and started working at NASAs Mission Control Center in Houston as CAPCOM — which is the voice between the ground and the International Space Station.In 2017 Astronaut Hansen became the first Canadian to be entrusted with leading a NASA astronaut class, and that meant that he is in charge of training astronaut candidates from the United States and Canada.And in 2023 he was assigned to the Artemis II mission.This episode focuses on Astronaut Hansen's Air Force career, training for the Artemis II mission, and his perspective on flying to the Moon and being the first non-American to leave low earth orbit.It's an awesome chat with a great Canadian, so I really hope you'll enjoy this discussion.NOTE: We have also had the privilege to interview another Canadian fighter pilot and Astronaut, and Jeremy's colleague, and that is Josh Kutryk, who we featured in Episode 3 and Episode 22. They are wonderful chats which we highly recommend.Our thanks to Astronaut Hansen for his time and kindness. We wish him and his crewmates a safe journey on their mission towards the Moon! Go Bold!

This episode is part of our Bleeding Edge series were we discuss new products, platforms, concepts, technologies and ground breaking events.We are all aware of the dire geopolitical security events that are taking place around the world, including the War in Ukraine, and the Israel-Hamas conflict and the instability of that region.Of particular note is the security situation in the Red Sea where naval vessels and commercial shipping have come under attack from ballistic missiles, and from Unmanned/Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAV), which are also known as Unmanned/Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) or drones. These events have disrupted global shipping and that has far reaching implications for us all.The threat posed by drones is very real and it is a concern to navies and to ship operators around the world. Companies like Federal Fleet Services, which owns and operates the Combat Support Ship Asterix - and lease its capabilities to the Royal Canadian Navy - have recognized this growing problem and have invested their own money to research, select and integrate a counter-UAS, (counter-drone) system onto the Asterix.After looking at various options, Federal Fleet Services selected the MARSS NiDAR counter-UAS system as the best solution available.In this episode we visited the Combat Support Ship Asterix when it was in port at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, and we had the privilege to interview John Schmidt, the President and CEO of Federal Fleet Services who spoke about the selection of the MARSS NiDAR counter-UAS system which will protect Asterix; and we spoke with Ryan Walker, who is also from Federal Fleet Services, and he discussed the components, capabilities and the installation of the NiDAR system, and working with the Royal Canadian Navy to validate and implement new tactics, techniques and procedures for using the system.This cutting edge counter-UAS technology is of critical importance for the threats faced by ships around the world, so it will be interesting to see how the system will do, and how its modularity will enable future enhancements if needed or desired.It's a great chat about new technology and new capabilities that will extend the eyes and ears of the Asterix.We want to thank Federal Fleet Services and the crew of the Combat Support Ship Asterix for their kindness and hospitality during our visit.Go Bold!

2024 is the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), so happy 100th to the RCAF and our respect to all those who have served and are serving in the Air Force.To mark this milestone year, we plan to publish a number of episodes featuring the men and women who are serving in the RCAF, and as we do here at Go Bold, that means we will be speaking with senior leaders in the Air Force including the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, so we encourage you to keep an ear out for those episodes.Central to the efforts to celebrate their 100th Anniversary are the men and women that make up the CF-18 Demonstration Team, which travels across Canada and further abroad to demonstrate the capabilities of Canada's fighter force.Our guest for this episode is Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot, and the pilot for the 2024 CF-18 Demo Team, Capt. Caleb "Tango" Robert.Capt. Robert is a combat qualified element lead on the CF-18 Hornet, and is assigned to 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, the "Alouettes" which is based at 3 Wing in Bagotville, Quebec.In this episode you'll hear about Tango's motivation to serve, flying the CF-18 Hornet, and his operational history. You'll also hear details about this year's CF-18 Demo Team, the jet he'll fly, and Tango's focus for the air show season ahead.It's a great chat with a frontline warfighter of the Royal Canadian Air Force.Go Bold!

On 27 December 2023, a Twin Otter aircraft operated by Air Tindi crashed in Canada's high North, approximately 300 km Northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.10 people were onboard, with some suffering injuries. It was night time, and there was blizzard conditions.This episode is a first-hand account of the Search and Rescue (SAR) response to this incident by the Canadian Armed Forces, and specifically the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and its 435 "Chinthe" Transport and Rescue Squadron which is based at 17 Wing in Winnipeg, Manitoba.Search and Rescue at 435 Squadron is a 24 hour-a-day, seven day-a-week responsibility. The Squadron operates the venerable CC-130 Hercules aircraft, some of which are permanently equipped and dedicated for search and rescue missions. During working hours on weekdays, the search and rescue standby aircraft and crew are ready to respond within 30 minutes of being notified. At all other times, the response time is extended to two hours. 435 Transport and Rescue (T&R) Squadron; and 424 T&R Squadron at 8 Wing in Trenton, Ontario, provide primary search and rescue response for the Trenton Search and Rescue Region, the largest in Canada, which extends from Quebec City to the British Columbia/Alberta border, and from the Canada/United States border to the North Pole. In this episode you will hear a first-hand account of the SAR response from 435 Squadron members Capt. Jason Shaw, who was the aircraft commander, and Sergeant Vincent C. Benoit, who was the senior Search and Rescue Technician (SARTech) on the mission. They are 2 of 8 RCAF members who flew on this rescue mission.You'll hear about the C-130 in its SAR role, you'll hear the distances the crew had to fly, you'll learn about the challenging conditions they encountered, you'll hear about parachuting from the aircraft in blizzard conditions, and you'll hear about the care they gave to the occupants of the aircraft that crashed.Our tag-line at Go Bold is Talking to Real Life Heroes, and this episode is exactly that.Our guests, and the rest of their crew, the men and women at the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, the men and women than maintain and support the RCAF aircraft, and the rescue team from the Diavik Diamond Mine are all heroes. We honor them with this episode which preserves their actions for others to hear and remember.Thank you to my guests, and thank you for serving and helping those in need!Go Bold!

Our focus for this episode is Exercise Cutlass Fury, a biennial Canadian Navy-led multi-national exercise that provides an opportunity for allied forces to train in a joint maritime environment. This training includes anti-submarine warfare, air defence, and surface warfare to name a few.Joining for this episode is Commodore Trevor MacLean of the Royal Canadian Navy. Commodore MacLean is the Commander of Canadian Fleet Atlantic, and he was the senior officer at sea leading Exercise Cutlass Fury 23. The principle focus of Exercise Cutlass Fury is anti-submarine warfare (ASW) but it's certainly not limited to that alone. Also exercised is air and maritime integration, and interoperability between Allies and joint elements.The exercise happened in September, and there were approximately 1,400 participating sailors, soldiers, and aviators from the armed forces of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.Eight ships from the Royal Canadian Navy and US Navy took part this year. Canadian ships included HMCS Charlottetown, HMCS Fredericton, HMCS Max Bernays, HMCS Glace Bay, HMCS Moncton, and for a short time the Victoria class submarine HMCS Windsor. US Navy ships comprised the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Porter (DDG 78) and USS James E. Williams (DDG 95), and a US Navy Virginia class attack submarine. Also participating was the support ship USNS William McLean.In addition, multiple classes and types of aircraft participated, including the CP-140 Aurora and CH-148 Cyclone from Canada, the P-8 Poseidon from the UK, the P-3 Orion from Germany, and the Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft from France. There was a lot to the exercise, but some key things to listen for include the opportunity for the Royal Canadian Navy to use one of its new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel's as a target launching platform; using the Royal Canadian Navy's Distributed Mission Operations Center (DMOC) in the exercise; and exercising Link 11 and Link 16 connectivity.You'll also hear about the Royal Canadian Navy's need to modernize its Halifax class so it stays relevant into the future, and you'll hear about the distributed training that's planned for the future.It's a great chat with a lot of insight, so we thank Commodore MacLean for his time, and we hope you'll enjoy this episode of Go Bold!

This episode focuses on the the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) first ever participation in Exercise Cobra Warrior, a Royal Air Force (RAF) led Large Force Employment exercise.Cobra Warrior is hosted by the UK's Air & Space Warfare Centre which is located at RAF Waddington.The Exercise is held twice a year, and it takes place across the UK and over multiple domains including air, sea, land, space and cyber. We published a detailed overview of Exercise Cobra Warrior in Go Bold #48, so we encourage you to listen to that episode as a compendium to this episode where we are focused on Exercise Cobra Warrior 23-2.This iteration of Cobra Warrior involved more than 50 aircraft from 6 allied countries including: Canada, USA, Italy, Norway, Australia and the UK, along with a NATO E-3A Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) which managed large areas of battlespace and provide surveillance and communications. These aircraft worked together to support a fictional country in conflict to regain sovereign territory.According to a senior officer at the Air & Space Warfare Centre, the intent of Exercise Cobra Warrior was to bring allied forces together in order to enhance the ability to work collaboratively on demanding missions and in dynamic threat environments.Cobra Warrior 23-2 was the first time the exercise conducted operations at night, so that added an entirely new aspect to the operations.For its first ever participation at Cobra Warrior, the Royal Canadian Air Force dispatched an Air Task Force which included CF-18 Hornet fighter jets and the CC-150 Polaris air refueling tanker. RCAF C-17 strategic airlift aircraft also supported the deployment into Europe. Numerous other types of aircraft participated during the exercise, including the RAF's F-35B Lightning which took part from the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. Also participating were RAF Typhoon fighter jets; F-35s from the United States and Norway, F-16s, Voyager MRTT air refueling tankers, HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and many more.Our guest to speak about the Royal Canadian Air Force's participation is Lieutenant-Colonel Tom Lawrence, the Commanding Officer of 433 Tactical Fighter Squadron, and the Commander of the Air Task Force for Canada's participation in Cobra Warrior 23-2.We have a great discussion where we speak about leadership, fighter pilot training, the CF-18 Hornet, and combat operations, and then we dive into the happenings of Exercise Cobra Warrior 23-2. It's an awesome chat with a ton of great information, so we hope you'll enjoy this conversation.Our thanks to LtCol Lawrence for his time and insight.Go Bold!

Our guest for this episode is Rear-Admiral Brian Santarpia of the Royal Canadian Navy, who at the time of our chat was Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic, Commander of Joint Task Force Atlantic, and he was also the Maritime Component Commander who advises the Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC). In addition to being a graduate of the National Security Program, RAdm Santarpia holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Royal Roads Military College Victoria, and a Masters of Defence Studies from Royal Military College of Canada Kingston.RAdm Santarpia was promoted to Commodore in July 2013 and appointed Director General Naval Personnel. He led the transformation of that organization and assumed the duties of the first Director General Navy Strategic Readiness in April 2014. From December 2014 until April 2015 he was deployed to Bahrain where he commanded Combined Task Force 150, a multi-national group of ships and aircraft conducting counter-terrorism operations. Upon his return to Canada, he was appointed to Chief of Staff to the Vice Chief of Defence Staff and later appointed Director General Plans at the Strategic Joint Staff in July 2016. In May 2018, he joined the Canadian Joint Operations Command as the Chief of Staff.RAdm Santarpia was appointed as Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic in June 2020. His position as Maritime Component Commander makes him one of the most informed Naval Officers in the Royal Canadian Navy -- this position enables him to have acute insight into the maritime security picture of the day. Our discussion spans a number of topics from service and leadership, to naval warfare and naval platforms like submarines, the future of the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel capability, and the future Canadian Surface Combatant. We also talk about important capabilities like Cooperative Engagement Capability.Our chat took place shortly before RAdm Santarpia's retirement, and it predates the Israel/Hamas war in Gaza.It's a wide ranging chat with great insight, so we really hope you enjoy this episode.Our thanks to Rear-Admiral Santarpia for his time and kindness, and we thank him for his service to Canada.Go Bold!

We here at Go Bold pride ourselves on bringing senior leaders to you, and we also pride ourselves on preserving history, which is what the last two episodes and this episode does to a tee!In our last 2 episodes, we had the pleasure to visit with Commander Corey Gleason of the Royal Canadian Navy, who at the time was the Commanding Officer of HMCS Harry DeWolf (AOPV 430), Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel, and the namesake of the class.Our previous chats were from Commander Gleason's quarters aboard HMCS Harry DeWolf when it was at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in British Columbia. That marked the half-way point of HMCS Harry DeWolf's historic first operational deployment in 2021 which circumnavigated North America in a counter clockwise direction.The first half of the circumnavigation started in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and then went up and into the Northwest Passage, and then around Alaska before heading south to Victoria.I encourage you to take the time to listen to the last two episodes to get an appreciation for the ship and its crew and everything they did up to that point -- it's all from Commander Gleason's first hand perspective -- so if you are interested in the capabilities of Canada's new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels, these episodes are a must listen!!The story didn't end in Victoria though, because there's a lot more to cover for the rest of the deployment!For this episode we are privileged to have Commander Gleason rejoin us, and this time from Halifax. Our chat happened soon after HMCS Harry DeWolf returned from its deployment, and I dare say that collectively, these 3 episodes comprise some of the most detailed accounts of the deployment that you will ever hear!My sound was a bit compromised, but Commander Gleason comes through clearly, and he's the one you want to hear anyway, so I really hope you'll enjoy this episode because you'll hear about leadership; the ship embarking a United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LE Det); operating new Multi-Role Rescue Boats; chasing down drug smugglers; what it's like to go through the Panama Canal; manning the ship and comparisons to other naval vessels; dodging storms; and so much more!All of these are first-ever events for the Harry DeWolf class ships.There's over 4 hours of content across these 3 episodes with Commander Gleason, and that's because we believe these firsts must be preserved. It really is an epic deployment, and we have the privilege to hear all about it from the first Commanding Officer himself!I want to thank Commander Gleason for his time and kindness in sharing his perspective of the inaugural deployment of HMCS Harry DeWolf, and I also want to thank the crew for their hospitality when I was aboard the ship.Go Bold!

In our last episode of Go Bold we introduced you to Commander Corey Gleason of the Royal Canadian Navy. We spoke with Commander Gleason when he was the Commanding Officer of HMCS Harry DeWolf (AOPV 430), the Royal Canadian Navy's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel. We did the interview onboard the ship when it was in Victoria, British Columbia, which was one of the stops during its 2021 inaugural deployment to circumnavigate North America.In this episode we continue our chat with Commander Gleason who shared his first-hand perspective of transiting the Northwest Passage, and technical aspects of operating a warship in the Arctic.You'll learn about the capabilities of this new class of Navy offshore patrol ship, including the use of a towed array sonar to surveil the water column for underwater threats; and you'll hear Commander Gleason's personal and often emotional account of the cultural significance of the deployment.You'll also hear about the importance of presence in the North and in the Arctic -- it is an area of growing interest to peers and competitors alike -- and all of this is straight from an expert in Arctic naval operations, our guest, Commander Corey Gleason. Note that this episode gets us to a mid-point in the deployment to circumnavigate North America, so please look for our next episode where we hear about the rest of HMCS Harry DeWolf's epic and historic deployment.Go Bold!

We are really excited to bring this episode to you because it illustrates so much of what we try to do at Go Bold, and that is to inform, educate, commemorate and even entertain. Part of that includes preserving history from those that make it, so you'll get all of that and so much more in the next few episodes which feature my guest, Commander Corey Gleason of the Royal Canadian Navy.We were privileged to conduct this interview in 2021 when Commander Gleason was the Commanding Officer of HMCS Harry DeWolf, Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV).Commander Gleason was the first Commanding Officer of the HMCS Harry DeWolf (AOPV 430), and we had our chat on board the ship and in the Captain's quarters after it arrived in Victoria, British Columbia, which was one of its many stops as part of its inaugural deployment which had the ship circumnavigate North America.The first-of-class deployment of HMCS Harry DeWolf marked many notable events, and high among them was the first time in decades where a Royal Canadian Navy ship transited the Northwest Passage (from East to West). The last time was in 1954 with HMCS Labrador.In this episode you'll hear about Commander Gleason's motivation to serve, some of his career highlights, and you'll hear about his leadership style.You'll also hear about the genesis of the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) program in Canada, and aspects of the class that make it an impressive new addition to the Royal Canadian Navy.We are publishing this episode today to mark the Grey Cup in Canada, and we are doing so because HMCS Harry DeWolf escorted the Grey Cup trophy from Toronto to Hamilton, Ontario, where the big game is being held.I really hope you'll enjoy these next few episodes because you'll hear all about a new class of Navy ship and you'll hear about historic firsts -- you'll hear about ship design and capabilities, Arctic sovereignty, climate change, Indigenous engagement and collaboration, and so much more, and you'll hear it all from a highly respected, highly experienced and thoughtful leader, our guest, Commander Corey Gleason (who recently retired from the Royal Canadian Navy).We thank Commander Gleason for his time and kindness to us, and we thank the men and women of HMCS Harry DeWolf for their hospitality during our visit aboard.Please remember that this is Part 1 of a few episodes, so be sure to like and follow so you ca listen to get the full story about the ship and its historic inaugural deployment!Go Bold!

Our episode today is another first for us as this is the first time we are welcoming two guests in an episode, and I'm thrilled to share that both are senior leaders in their respective global defence organizations.Our chat centres around the critical aspect of supporting the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and we're specifically focusing on Canada's future fleet of F-35's, of which the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will acquire 88 of the highly advanced 5th Generation stealth aircraft.Buying aircraft is one thing, but supporting them is entirely different, so what you'll hear in our discussion is the importance of efficiently supporting the F-35, which requires sustainment in a whole new way, and you'll hear about it framed in the context of service to country, entrepreneurship, outright fortitude and lessons learned.Joining for this episode is Jacques Comtois, who started his career in the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he served as a Commanding Officer, 3 Air Maintenance Squadron (3 AMS) in Bagotville, Québec.Jacques is now Vice President of Arcfield Canada, a company that has been a trusted partner to the Canadian Armed Forces for more than 35 years in supplying in-service and integrated logistics support to the CF-18 fleet through its expertise in supply chain management, maintenance and repair, and engineering solutions.Also joining is Rene de Koning, the CEO and owner of OneLogistics, a company that was specifically set up to support the European F-35 program to deal with European rules, regulations and complexities of the F-35 supply chain. OneLogistics is now Europe's leading supply chain partner for sustainment of the F-35 fighter.These gentlemen bring a wealth of experience from the military and from industry, and they are now combining Arcfield Canada's expertise in supporting Canada's fighter fleet with OneLogistics' unmatched experience as a Product Support Provider for the F-35.It's a really interesting discussion so I want to thank both of my guests for their time and insight on their solution to support Canada's future fleet of F-35s, and perhaps more!Go Bold!

This episode is a special one for a few reasons. First, we are saluting the United States Navy which is celebrating its 248th birthday! In tribute of that anniversary, we thought it would be appropriate that this episode feature someone from the US Navy, so I am honored to introduce our guest, Captain Jonathan Lipps, Commander of Task Force SIX FOUR, and NATOs commander Task Group Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) which is assigned to Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, otherwise known as STRIKFORNATO.As it happened, on the day of our interview in June, and down to the hour in fact, Commodore Lipps was celebrating 30 years of serving in the United States Navy. The timing of our interview and the Commodores work anniversary was pure happenstance, but I felt a sense of honor that we could mark that milestone together. Congratulations Sir! We at Go Bold are also celebrating an anniversary of sorts because this is our 50th episode! It's a great milestone, and it's all thanks to our team, to our amazing listeners, and to all the wonderful guests that we have had from allied militaries around the world! Thanks to you all, and GO BOLD!So that brings me to my guest for today's episode, Commodore Jonathan Lipps, whose career focus has been on Integrated Air and Missile Defense. The importance of IAMD cannot be understated because it is meant to protect territory, populations and forces against air and missile threat and attack; and it is meant to contribute to deterrence. It's an incredibly important topic, and one that is more topical today than perhaps ever before.In this episode you'll hear Commodore Lipps speak about his journey in the US Navy, including his perspective on the development of IAMD capability in the US Navy. This includes the first intercepts of ballistic missile targets with the Standard Missile-3 guided missile; his time at the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex; and his time at the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System in Romania.We also talk about multi-domain integration, and modern data-links which support real-time engagement of distributed weapons across the Joint Force. We then talk about Exercise Formidable Shield 2023 and why it is so important for NATO.Exercise Formidable Shield is Europe's largest and most complex IAMD Exercise. It is a biennial exercise which is meant to demonstrate Allied interoperability in a joint live-fire, Integrated Air and Missile Defense environment using NATO command and control reporting structures. The exercise took place over a 1,000 nautical mile area from the west coast of Scotland to Northern Norway -- so that's from the North Atlantic to the Arctic Circle -- and it brings together ships, aircraft and ground based units from throughout the NATO alliance.Commodore Lipps was the Task Group Commander of the exercise, and his command ship was the Spanish guided missile frigate, SPS Blas de Lezo (F103).A total of 20 surface ships from across NATO took part in the exercise, with ships from the United States, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands launching numerous missiles against subsonic, supersonic and ballistic missile targets. These missiles included the Aster-15, Aster-30, Standard Missile-2, and Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles (ESSM).Not only did ships fire missiles, but land units employing HIMARS and NASAMS also engaged targets during Formidable Shield.Integrated Air and Missile Defense is a fascinating topic, and even more so when you think of the maritime application of the capability, so you don't want to miss this front-seat perspective from a pioneer and expert in this capability -- our guest, Commodore Jonathan Lipps, of the United States Navy.Thank you, Commodore Lipps, for your time and kindness, and for your service!Go Bold!

We are proud to welcome as our guest, Commodore David Mazur, the Commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific.Commodore Mazur is responsible for the combat readiness of the Pacific Fleet, and he has over 10 deployers and numerous auxiliary support vessels under his command.For this episode, we were on board His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Winnipeg, a Halifax class surface combatant while it was underway in the Eastern Pacific as the command ship for Exercise Trident Fury 2023, which is the Pacific's Fleet's premier combined and joint exercise. Exercises like Trident Fury are critical to maintaining the operational readiness of Canadian Armed Forces and allies as it presents demanding maritime conditions in a simulated hostile environment which is shaped by escalating tensions. Commodore Mazur was on board HMCS Winnipeg as the Task Group Commander during Exercise Trident Fury.The exercise had six Canadian Navy ships participating (HMCS' Winnipeg, Vancouver, Ottawa, Edmonton, Yellowknife, Nanaimo), alongside U.S. assets, NATO partners, and some ships of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) -- JS Kashima and JS Hatakaze.A key participant in the exercise was the Combat Support Ship Asterix, a platform owned and operated by Federal Fleet Services, and is leased to the Royal Canadian Navy to provide multi-mission support, primarily with its ability to provide Replenishment-at-Sea (RAS).Asterix joined into Exercise Trident Fury while it was already underway, and that's because the ship arrived into the Eastern Pacific (on schedule) after it circumnavigated the world while supporting deployed operations of the Royal Canadian Navy.Over 1,000 military personnel took part across all units and platforms, including Royal Canadian Navy ships, numerous Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft (CF-18, CC-130H(T), CP-140), Canadian Army personnel, and units from the United States (EA-18G Growler, P-8 Poseidon, A-10 Warthog), as well as NATO partners, and Japan.Exercise Trident Fury 2023 had a number of other exercises within its overarching umbrella, including:Exercise Unified Vision, the premier NATO event for Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JISR) activities.Exercise Vital Archer, a bilateral US-Canada exercise focused on counter-terrorism, and counter weapons of mass destruction.Exercise Fox Frenzy, a missile exercise which had CF-18 Hornets engage Vindicator aerial target drones that were launched from HMCS Winnipeg.One of Exercise Trident Fury's primary objectives was pre-deployment training for HMCS Ottawa and HMCS Vancouver's deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. Known as Intermediate Multi-Ship Readiness Training (IMSRT), the training involved a full spectrum of sea and air tactical warfare training, including live-fire exercises, seamanship, maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, air defense, mine counter-measures, and small boat defense.The exercise also served as an opportunity to experiment with ship crewing models for the Royal Canadian Navy, and that's to facilitate the training backlog for sailors in the wake of the training slow-down that happened as a result of the pandemic. Our conversation focused a lot on training because as the Commodore said, it's all about "saving the Navy."As an update to this episode, HMCS Ottawa and HMCS Vancouver achieved their high readiness certifications after Exercise Trident Fury, so these ships and their helicopter air detachments are now in the Indo-Pacific region as part of Operation Horizon.We wish to thank the men and women of HMCS Winnipeg for their hospitality, and we thank Commodore Mazur for the time he spent with us.Go Bold!

Our podcast spans the world to learn about the men and women who serve their countries, and we pride ourselves on showcasing senior leaders of allied militaries. This episode continues that trend.Joining us is Group Captain Andrew Burton, the Deputy Commandant of the U.K. Air & Space Warfare Centre which is located at RAF Waddington.The Air & Space Warfare Centre is the organization responsible for planning and hosting Exercise Cobra Warrior, a large scale exercise that happens twice a year (spring and autumn), with each serial running for approximately 3 weeks.Our chat occurred late last year after the Cobra Warrior 2022 autumn serial, which had participants from the U.K., the United States, Germany and Italy; and it was the first time the Royal Air Force used the innovative SPEAR software.We are bringing this discussion to you now because we are on the heels of the 2023 autumn serial of Exercise Cobra Warrior (23-2), which includes a first time participant with the Royal Canadian Air Force sending seven CF-18 fighters, and one CC-150 Polaris Air refueling tanker.After arriving in the UK, the Canadian aircraft were supported by a Royal Air Force Voyager multi-role tanker transport aircraft, otherwise known as the A330 MRTT. That is the same type of aircraft that Canada has selected for its Strategic Tanker Transport Capability (STTC) project, so the exercise has already delivered great training value even though it has not officially started.Exercise Cobra Warrior is a large force multinational and multi-domain tactics development exercise. Common serials within the exercise include Offensive Counter Air; Defensive Counter Air; Joint Personnel Recovery; and support of land forces.You'll hear all about the exercise from Group Captain Burton, who said the ultimate goal is to develop it into the "Red Flag of Europe."We thank Group Captain Burton for his time and insight into this impressive exercise.Go Bold!

This episode is focused on the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) modernization effort to enhance its fleet of CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft.The $1.3 billion (CAD) project to upgrade the CF-18 Hornet fleet is meant to ensure Canada's fighter fleet remains capable of responding to threats until new jets acquired under the Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP) reaches Operational Capability. You'll hear my guest and I refer to FFCP in our discussion -- that platform will be the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.The upgrade effort is known as the Hornet Extension Project, or HEP for short. It is required to keep the CF-18 fleet interoperable and compliant with aviation regulations, and to maintain operational parity with current threats.The Hornet Extension Project will see upgrades to all CF-18's in the fleet, and that includes jets that were acquired from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) under the Interim Fighter Capability Project (IFCP).The Hornet Extension Project will have two Phases.HEP 1 focuses primarily on interoperability and regulatory upgrades for all CF-18's.HEP 2 is a further enhancement that will see 36 jets configured as the most capable fighters in the Royal Canadian Air Force.HEP 2 upgrades include a new radar, advanced weapons capability, enhanced survivability, and mission support and security requirements which are primarily required to support new weapons for the CF-18.This upgrade effort is being conducted in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps, who are also upgrading their legacy Hornet fleet.Joining me to talk about all of this is Royal Canadian Air Force Brigadier-General Todd Balfe, who manages the Hornet Extension Project. The General puts context into the modernization, so we thank him for his time, and for his kindness.Go Bold!

Our guest today is someone that has gone through a life changing event which we have learned has given him a beautiful perspective on life.Joining me for this episode is retired U.S. Navy Commander Kevin Chlan, a F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter pilot whose call sign is SHAKA. Commander Chlan is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and he's also a graduate of the Navy's prestigious Fighter Weapons School, which is better known as Top Gun. SHAKA then served as a Navy Weapons School Instructor pilot, and he served as the Commanding Officer of VFA-31 Tomcatters, a Super Hornet strike fighter squadron.On 11 October 2007, as part of his duties as an instructor pilot at Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic, SHAKA was flying a legacy (or classic) F/A-18A Hornet from VFA-87 Golden Warriors, where he was acting as Red Air which were presenting training scenarios for blue force fighters, all of which were based at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia.As fate would have it, SHAKA had to eject from his F/A-18A that day while bullseye low. What does that mean? How did he survive? And how was he rescued? Our chat covers all those points and more from SHAKA's first hand account.The tag-line for this podcast is "Talking to Real Life Heroes" -- I believe my guests are exactly that, and I believe the people that came to SHAKA's rescue are heroes too. It's because of their professionalism that a life was saved that day, so we here at Go Bold want to thank them for their service.In this episode you'll hear the following words from SHAKA, and they are worth repeating here: "Live life with a sense of gratitude."We couldn't agree more, and we hope that you will find some inspiration from SHAKA's story.We are thankful to Commander Chlan for taking the time to share the harrowing experience of ejecting from the fighter jet he was piloting, the story of his rescue, his recovery, and his outlook on life.Go Bold!

Our podcast speaks with senior leaders from allied forces about exercises, technology and most importantly, the people that serve our nations.Our episode today continues these themes and is focused on Exercise Kakadu, the Royal Australian Navy's largest naval exercise, and one of the largest naval exercises in the Southern hemisphere.Held last September, the exercise theme of "partnership, leadership and friendship" was woven through a full program of activities in the seas and skies off Northern Australia.Kakadu 2022 was one of the biggest iterations yet, having grown in scale and complexity over the past 30 years.The exercise involved 15 warships, including a submarine, and 34 aircraft from 22 different nations, along with more than 3,000 participants.The capabilities exercised ranged from humanitarian aid and disaster relief, seamanship, maritime law enforcement operations, to high-end maritime warfighting, including anti-air and anti-submarine warfare in a combined environment.Participating forces steamed more than 24,500 nautical miles, and expended more than 13,000 rounds of ammunition in high-end training scenarios.Speaking about Exercise Kakadu is our guest, Captain (Navy) Pete Bartlett, who was serving as the Director of the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Force Generation Directorate, and was the Director of Exercise Kakadu 2022.Captain Bartlett was kind to share his insight after the exercise concluded, so we hope you enjoy our discussion.The next iteration of Exercise Kakadu is scheduled for 2024.We wish to thank Captain Bartlett for his kindness and for the time he shared with us.Go Bold!

In this episode we speak with retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Chad McCoy, a special operator who served as a PJ, that's Para-Jumper or Pararescue, with the 66th and 33rd Rescue Squadrons of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).Chad then went on to serve as the Senior Chief with the 24th Special Tactics Squadron of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).Throughout his military career, Chad was part of the cadre of specialists that serve as the rescue response for U.S. military services. Their motto is: That Others May Live.We discuss the extensive training and advanced skills required to be a PJ in the Special Ops community, and how that training has evolved over the years, and how today's operators need to be multifaceted and adaptable for multi-domain operations.Special Operations is often sensationalized in Hollywood movies, so Chad sheds light on the mystique of Special Operations as he shares his journey on what it means to be a Tier 1 operator working with U.S. Navy SEAL Teams, Army Special Forces, and conducting clandestine operations. Chad's first-hand insight was gained through 17 combat deployments in various theaters of operation around the world.Chad went on to work at the Doolittle Institute, an Innovation Institute which supports the Air Force Research Lab Munitions Directorate. It is here where Chad saw issues which small businesses face when dealing with the Department of Defense, and where he reinforced his view on the need to iterate quickly for the needs of the warfighter.Today Chad McCoy is the co-founder of Firestorm Labs, an innovative company focused on the rapid production of modular, low-cost, mission adaptable platforms which are geared for the highly dynamic nature of modern warfare.Chad is the real deal, and throughout our conversation you'll hear him speak with humility, a quality which I respect and I feel makes for an engaging discussion.We thank Chad McCoy for his time and his insight into the world of Pararescue and Special Operations, and for sharing the focus at Firestorm Labs.Go Bold!

In our last episode we introduced you to Maj. Ridge Flick, callsign KELSO, a United States Air Force (USAF) fighter pilot who flies the A-10 Warthog which is the primary attack aircraft for the U.S. Air Force.We spoke with Maj. Flick when he was a Weapons Instructor Pilot at the highly respected U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. That position means that Maj. Flick is at the forefront of the operational tactics that makes the Warthog virtually unmatched in the air-to-surface role.In this episode, we continue our chat with Maj. Flick, as he shares his experiences of flying the A-10 in combat in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. You'll hear what's its like to do long range transits over the ocean, ways in which the A-10 was employed, squadron life, and some of the weapons that make it the preeminent Close-Air Support (CAS) aircraft in the USAF.We also discuss some of the things that could enhance the capability of the mighty A-10 Warthog even further.The A-10 Warthog is a truly iconic aircraft, and you'll hear all about it from KELSO's first hand perspective.We wish to thank Maj. Flick for the time he spent with us, and we honor him and all A-10 pilots past and present with a hail to their battle-cry: ATTACK, and we echo it with ours: GO BOLD!

In Episodes 9 & 10 we had the honor to speak with retired United States Air Force Colonel Scott "SOUP" Campbell, a Wing Commander and fighter pilot who graciously shared his experiences and perspective on flying the incredible A-10 Warthog.At the end of that 2-part chat, we agreed to do another episode where we'd discuss in detail the newest variant of the Warthog, and that is the A-10C.In planning that follow on episode, Colonel Campbell recommended that I speak with an active duty pilot that he once commanded, because as SOUP said, he's one of the most talented A-10 pilot's that he knows.That person is U.S. Air Force Major Ridge "KELSO" Flick, who is our guest for this episode of Go Bold.Maj. Flick graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy, after which he did pilot training to become a fighter pilot.Today Maj. Flick is an A-10C Warthog pilot who has flown combat missions over Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, and at the time of our chat he was a Weapons Instructor Pilot at the Air Force's Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.For those who don't know, being a Weapons School Instructor Pilot is the equivalent of being a University Professor who teaches PhD students -- collectively these folks are pilots who are among the elite in the United States Air Force.The U.S. Air Force Weapons School trains tactical experts and leaders to control and exploit air, space and cyber on behalf of the joint force. The weapons school mantra is: "humble, approachable and credible". These folks form a band of trusted advisors and problem-solvers that lead the Department of the Air Force and enables it to integrate its combat power seamlessly alongside those of other military services. Maj. Flick embodies the tenets of the Weapons School mantra, and he graciously shares his time with us to describe his experiences of training, leadership, and in flying the mighty A-10C Warthog.The A-10C configuration incorporates modern avionics which enable the use of precision weaponry.As Maj. Flick says, the A-10C is a "1st Gen fighter with Gen 4++ avionics".Maj. Flick describes how the A-10C systems - like the moving map, helmet mounted sight, and targeting pod - provide enhanced situational awareness and functionality which makes the A-10C incredibly effective as a Close Air Support and attack aircraft.You'll hear first-hand perspective on flying the A-10 and what its like to shoot its amazing GAU-8 30mm cannon. You'll also hear about the A-10 syllabus at the Weapons School.It's a great conversation from one of the best in the business, so we thank Maj. Flick for his time and insight.Be sure to listen to our next episode where Maj. Flick shares some of his experiences of flying the A-10C in combat!The A-10 community says ATTACK, and we echo that with GO BOLD!

Our guest is Lieutenant-Colonel Tim Kenney of the Canadian Army. LtCol Kenney is an Infantry officer by trade, and he has served in combat theatres in the Middle East. Today LtCol Kenney is the Commanding Officer of the Canadian Army's Advanced Warfare Centre (CAAWC), which is the functional center of excellence for the Canadian Army's myriad of environmental domains including Arctic, jungle, and other complex terrains.The Advanced Warfare Center is also the functional center of excellence for technical domains like Patrol Pathfinders, Airborne, helicopter insertion and aerial delivery.The Colonel shares his motivation to serve, and he kindly shares his personal reflections on the NATO and Allied forces campaign in Afghanistan; as well as his thoughts on the current war in Ukraine.We then do a deep dive into the Advanced Warfare Centre that LtCol Kenney leads. We discuss the breadth, reach and scope of the Unit, and the various tasks they are charged with, including training specialists for various domains like the Arctic.We learn that the Advanced Warfare Centre is the only Canadian Army Training Establishment with an operational mandate where it is responsible to have a two member liaison team on two hour notice to move, and a 12 member parachute team on 12 hour notice to move to force generate for Contingency Plan SOTERIA. SOTERIA is a joint contingency operation aimed at preserving life following a major air or sea accident in the Arctic. The plan involves parachuting into an incident site with survival equipment, supporting the efforts of the lead Search and Rescue Technicians, and providing shelter and sustenance to survivors. This capability was recently exercised by the Advanced Warfare Center, so LtCol Kenney shares his assessment of that evolution.LtCol Kenney is passionate about what he does, and he is rightly proud of the diverse Unit that he commands. We thank LtCol Kenney for his time and insight, and we hope you enjoy this episode of Go Bold.

The past couple of weeks have had some interesting events happen over the skies of North America.Most of us are aware that the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD as it is commonly known, has for the first time since its creation shot down objects that were in North American airspace.For those that don't know, NORAD is a United States and Canada bi-national organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for North America. According to NORAD, Aerospace warning includes the detection, validation, and warning of attack against North America whether by aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles, through mutual support arrangements with other commands.Perhaps there will be an addition to that statement because the first object shot down on February 4th was a suspected high-altitude surveillance balloon which was deployed by China, who for their part called it a "civilian airship" that had deviated "far from its planned course" due to "limited self-steering capability."Most of us saw footage of the large balloon, which supported an under-slung apparatus including solar panels, and what intelligence officials believe are various instruments and sensors.Floating at an altitude of approximately 60,000 feet, the balloon was first detected over Alaska after which it traveled down through Canada and across the United States.On the direction of military officials and the U.S. Government, NORAD directed fighters to shoot down the balloon once it was off the coast of South Carolina. This location was selected as it posed the least threat to people on the ground. This event was the first time the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor has made an air-to-air kill, and it did so using the relatively new AIM-9X Sidewinder, a short-range heat-seeking missile.This event was followed by subsequent detection's and shoot-downs of high-altitude objects over Northern Alaska on February 10; the Yukon territory on February 11; and Lake Huron on February 12. These objects were described as cylindrical or octagonal, and were floating at altitudes between 20,000 and 40,000 feet, and they were smaller than the balloon that was shot down off the coast of South Carolina.Are these balloons a new occurrence? Are they threats to national security or to commercial aviation? Did they fly through gaps in radar coverage? Is using missiles the best way to shoot them down?We invited retired Lieutenant-General Yvan Blondin, the former Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to give his expert opinion in answering these questions and others.General Blondin is eminently qualified to speak to these events as he served as a CF-18 fighter pilot who has conducted NORAD missions, and as a general officer, he served in various command positions at NORAD before serving as the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force.We can't think of anyone better to discuss this with -- it is exactly what we do here at Go Bold -- we have senior leaders share their expert insight on topics that are meaningful to Allied Forces around the world.As a contextual bonus, we added the actual radio audio between F-22 fighter pilots and controllers during the first NORAD shoot down of the high-altitude balloon off the South Carolina coast on February 4 (this audio is widely available in the public domain).We want to thank Lieutenant-General Blondin for his time and insight in discussing these milestone events for NORAD.Go Bold!

In our last episode we spoke with Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fighter pilot Lieutenant-Colonel David McLeod, who was the Commander of Air Task Force - Romania for Block 54 of NATO Enhanced Air Policing in Romania.Our episode today is a compendium to that episode because we had the honor to speak with Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Latwaitis, a RCAF fighter pilot who is the Commanding Officer of 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, the "Alouettes", which is based at Canadian Forces Base Bagotville. The Colonel served as the Commander of Air Task Force (ATF) - Romania for Block 60 of NATO Enhanced Air Policing in Romania, which was conducted in the latter half of 2022 from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base. Our conversation took place in December 2022 as the ATF wrapped up its operations.We are publishing these episodes on NATO Enhanced Air Policing back-to-back in order to get an appreciation for the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) mission, how Canada has conducted deployments for it, and more importantly, to get an appreciation of how global events like the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine has affected deployments for the mission.You'll hear how the RCAF formed its contingent for Block 60, and how they had the opportunity to work alongside Romanian colleagues and several Allies in conducting interoperability training to enhance NATO's collective assurance and deterrence on the southeastern flank, all while in the shadow of war in Europe. Exercise highlights during Block 60 included Thracian Viper in Bulgaria.The Colonel described how members from the Air Task Force for Block 60 worked for the first time with Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) which is headquartered in Ramstein, Germany. AIRCOM oversees the NATO Air Policing mission with 24/7 command and control from two Combined Air Operations Centres (CAOCs): one in Torrejón, Spain, which covers European NATO airspace South of the Alps; and the other in Uedem, Germany, which covers European NATO airspace North of the Alps.The RCAF will not be returning to Romania in 2023, so keep an ear out here for more on developments with the RCAF CF-18 Hornet fleet.We thank LtCol Latwaitis for his kindness, time and insight.Go Bold!

In this episode we focus on a NATO Enhanced Air-Policing deployment conducted by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) -- specifically Block 54 which took place in Romania from August 2020 until the end of that year.This particular deployment of combat coded CF-18 Hornets is notable because it coincided with the early days of the COVID pandemic, so that posed challenges in both planning and execution when compared to a standard deployment.Our guest is RCAF Lieutenant-Colonel David McLeod, who at the time was Commanding Officer of 433 Tactical Fighter Squadron, and the Commander of Air Task Force - Romania for Block 54. Our interview took place just as the deployment wrapped up and while the Colonel was still at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania (January 2021).We are publishing this episode because it forms a historical account of what the RCAF does -- in this case flying quick reaction alert missions for NATO -- and also because our next episode will focus on a more recent NATO Enhanced Air-Policing deployment (Block 60) which was also conducted by the RCAF, so it will be interesting to hear differences in the deployment and security situation in the region.NATO Air Policing is a peacetime mission that aims to preserve the security of Alliance airspace. It is a collective task and involves the continuous presence of fighter aircraft and crews, which are ready to react quickly to possible airspace violations.Enhanced Air Policing is part of NATO's Assurance Measures introduced in 2014 along NATO's eastern borders, after Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of the Crimean peninsula. The Alliance implemented these Assurance Measures with the goal to demonstrate the collective resolve of Allies, demonstrate the defensive nature of NATO and deter Russia from aggression or the threat of aggression against NATO Allies. They are flexible and scalable in response to fluctuations in the security situation facing the Alliance.In this episode you will hear about the logistics of moving a detachment of CF-18 fighter jets to another continent, COVID protocols that helped make the mission a success, an alert intercept, various training opportunities the RCAF did with allied air assets, and surface assets like HMS Dragon and USS Donald Cook which were in the Black Sea. You'll also hear how the RCAF exercised a Canadian Joint Data Link ground station which was used to connect to the NATO network.We thank LtCol McLeod for his time, and for the pilots out there, remember to: Always bring a copy of your flight plan with you! (You'll have to listen to know why).Go Bold!

This is our first episode of 2023, so to our loyal listeners, welcome back! To our new listeners, welcome! We hope you'll enjoy the wide array of topics and voices that we share from senior leaders and people who are serving or have served with Allied Forces around the world.In my work as a global aerospace and defence journalist and analyst, I come in contact with interesting and inspiring people all over the world. Today's guest is one of those people. I first connected with Major Andrew Fox when he was serving with the British Army as an Airborne Infantry officer. He served 3 combat tours in Afghanistan and has become a strong advocate for mental health. Our episode today was recorded when Major Fox was still in uniform and it focuses on a combat event that affected him with PTSD. That is enough in it's own right, but what struck me even more was that his traumatic experience concerned a colleague who wasn't even in his own army - it was a colleague in the Afghan National Army, so that to me speaks about the friendships, trust and camaraderie which is developed between Allies, especially in combat.It's a story which I think is important to share, and more importantly, Maj. Fox shares it because he hopes his journey will help others, and that is just one of the reasons why I respect him.I want to thank Maj. Fox for his time and for his perspective on PTSD and how we can all try to help each other.Go Bold!------------For active or retired service members who are listening and feel that you need some help or support, please reference the following contact numbers, and please remember that there is no shame in asking for help as these resources are here for you.In the UK: Samaritans provides a 24/7 safe place to talk about anything that's bothering you. Tel: 116 123In the US: For the Military Crisis Line / Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, dial 988 and press 1.In Canada: A confidential and free service available 24/7 to Veterans, former RCMP members, their family members, and caregivers. Call 1-800-268-7708In Australia: All-hours Support Line (ASL) is a 24/7 confidential telephone service for ADF members and their families. Call 1800 628 036

For this episode we are proud to welcome Brigadier-General Mike Adamson, the Commander of the newly established 3 Canadian Space Division.The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) marked the establishment of 3 Canadian Space Division on 22 July 2022. The Division is an evolution from the Air Force's Director General Space organization as the responsibility for space operations has steadily grown over the last decade. According to the Air Force, the establishment of 3 Canadian Space Division recognizes the critical importance of space in all Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operations and day-to-day activities, and is a step forward in protecting Canada's interests in space.This newest Division of the Air Force will streamline, focus, and improve how space-based capabilities support critical Canadian Armed Forces requirements to deliver communications, command and control, navigation, weather, and situational awareness in support of military operations and activities. Such activities can include search and rescue, monitoring Canada's maritime approaches to reinforce Arctic sovereignty, support to NORAD operations, and support to decision-making in overseas operations.The establishment of 3 Canadian Space Division will also include the re-establishment of 7 Wing, which will comprise 7 Space Operations Squadron and 7 Operations Support Squadron. 7 Wing will provide space-based data and capabilities in support of CAF operations.A priority for 3 Canadian Space Division will be Canada's commitment to the Combined Space Operations Initiative. This agreement includes Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, and provides opportunities to enhance cooperation on defence space activities.Speaking during the establishment of 3 Canadian Space Division was Lieutenant-General Al Meinzinger, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, who said: "The space domain is of critical importance, now more than ever, when considering its role in guiding military operations and enabling a vast range of day-to-day activities for Canadians. The establishment of 3 Canadian Space Division enables the Royal Canadian Air Force to ensure we have the right organizational structure to continually deliver spaced-based effects across the CAF, while also ensuring we are aligned with our allies who have established similar Space Commands."You will hear how the space domain is of growing importance and how industry can help the Division. We hope you enjoy this episode with Brigadier-General Adamson. We thank him for his time and insight.Go Bold!

We rejoin for Part 2 with our guest, Capt. Troy Maa, an accomplished helicopter pilot who has amassed over 6,200 flight hours, 5,200 of which are with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).I first met Capt. Maa a number of years ago when he was flying the CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopter at 442 Squadron, which is a tenant unit at Canadian Forces Base Comox, in British Columbia, Canada. 442 Squadron is a composite unit which until recently operated both the Cormorant and CC-115 Buffalo aircraft in the search and rescue roles.Troy was a Major and senior pilot on the squadron at the time, and as a Flight Commander he was focused on operations and operational training on the Cormorant. It wasn't just his role though -- he was passionate about operational training, and it was that passion that left a strong impression on me, and that is one of the reasons we asked him to be a guest here on Go Bold.After his time on the Cormorant, Troy transitioned to the Air Force Reserve where he assumed the rank of Captain which allowed him the opportunity to return to flying his first operational platform, the CH-124 Sea King anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter.In this episode we discuss more about the Cormorant helicopter, and how Search and Rescue missions were dispatched and conducted at 442 Squadron, which includes coordination with fixed-wing aircraft.We also discuss one of Troy's last Search and Rescue missions where he and his team were dispatched on a night mission to rescue a climber who had fallen and was stuck on cliff at 10,000 feet! I'm happy to share that Capt. Maa is now back on active duty with the Royal Canadian Air Force and is flying the new CH-148 Cyclone anti-submarine warfare helicopter. We will focus on the Cyclone in a future episode of Go Bold, so please like and follow us so you don't miss any of our great guests and topics!-------------------During our chat you'll hear us refer to the Buffalo fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft, which was part of 442 Squadron. The Buffalo has recently been retired, and its fixed-wing search and rescue role has been taken up by the CC-130 Hercules as an interim solution until the dedicated CC-295 Kingfisher fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft comes online.------------------Our thanks to Capt. Maa for sharing his insight on flying the magnificent Sea King and Cormorant helicopters!Go Bold!

Our guest today is Capt. Troy Maa, an accomplished helicopter pilot who has amassed over 6,200 flight hours, 5,200 of which are with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).I first met Capt. Maa a number of years ago when he was flying the CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopter at 442 Squadron, which is a tenant unit at Canadian Forces Base Comox, in British Columbia, Canada. 442 Squadron is a composite unit which until recently operated both the Cormorant and CC-115 Buffalo aircraft in the search and rescue roles.Troy was a Major and senior pilot on the squadron at the time, and as a Flight Commander he was focused on operations and operational training on the Cormorant. It wasn't just his role though -- he was passionate about operational training, and it was that passion that left a strong impression on me, and that is one of the reasons we asked him to be a guest here on Go Bold.After his time on the Cormorant, Troy transitioned to the Air Force Reserve where he assumed the rank of Captain which allowed him the opportunity to return to flying his first operational platform, the CH-124 Sea King anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter. Troy shares his thoughts on flying ASW missions and some of the unique nuances of the Sea King.It's important to note that Canada has retired the Sea King, but we wanted to discuss both platforms as a way to learn and contrast their capabilities, and to preserve stories about them.After his second stint of flying the Sea King, Troy then went to the civil side of aviation where he flew the Sikorsky S-76 on scheduled routes, and then to another company where he flew the S-92 in the Search and Rescue role.I'm happy to share that Capt. Maa is now back on active duty with the Royal Canadian Air Force and is flying the new CH-148 Cyclone anti-submarine warfare helicopter. We will focus on the Cyclone in a future episode of Go Bold, so please like and follow us so you don't miss any of our great guests and topics!We hope you enjoy this episode where we focus on Troy's motivation to serve and his approach to training as he shares his experiences flying the Sea King and the Cormorant helicopters.-------------------During our chat you'll hear us refer to the Buffalo fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft, which was part of 442 Squadron. The Buffalo has recently been retired, and its fixed-wing search and rescue role has been taken up by the CC-130 Hercules as an interim solution until the dedicated CC-295 Kingfisher fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft comes online.We have another interesting side note -- although the Sea King helicopter is an older platform, it is still relevant today! The United Kingdom recently transferred some of their retired Sea Kings to Ukraine where they will be operated by the Ukrainian Forces for search and rescue and utility roles. So even as surplus equipment, the Sea King continues its long and storied service.------------------Please look for Part 2 of our discussion with Capt. Maa in our next episode!Go Bold!

We at Go Bold pride ourselves on documenting important events in aerospace and defence, so the 2nd of December 2022, is a day that will be remembered as a significant milestone in aviation history.That's when the United States Air Force and the Northrop Grumman Corporation unveils the new B-21 stealth bomber, which is named the Raider, in honor of the Doolittle Raid in World War II. The rollout at Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, is significant in its own right, but the bomber marks another major milestone as it is regarded as the first 6th Generation aircraft in existence.Here to speak about the B-21 is a guest who is eminently qualified to discuss the topic, and that is retired Major-General Doug Raaberg, who served with the United States Air Force.General Raaberg is an Honor Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and holds master's degrees from the University of Southern California and National War College.He is a command pilot with more than 4,700 flying hours, primarily in the FB-111, B-1 and B-2 bombers. He is a combat veteran with 35 combat missions in the B-1 bomber, and holds the world's record for the fastest non-stop flight around the globe. For this historical aerial achievement, he and his team received the 1995 McKay Trophy for the U.S. Air Force Most Meritorious Flight of the Year Award.General Raaberg commanded the United States only B-2 stealth-bomber wing which is known to have spearheaded the air campaign for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.His general officer assignments include Director of Air and Space Operations for Air Combat Command. Additionally, he has extensive experience in international military affairs orchestrating regional operations as the Deputy Director of Operations for U.S. Central Command. Today General Raaberg serves as the Executive Vice President, Air & Space Forces Association, providing strategic direction to AFA as the premier professional military and aerospace education association in the nation. He serves with the AFA President in their commitment to supporting Airmen and their families around the globe.In speaking about the B-21, the General predicts that it will be a "menace" to adversaries.We are excited for the rollout of the B-21 and for the future of the Global Strike Command, so we hope this discussion adds some context to the significance of the rollout event.We thank Major-General (Ret) Raaberg for this time and insight.Go Bold!

We are honored to have senior leaders from Allied forces share their insight. In Episode 26, we spoke with Group Captain Matthew McCormack of the Royal Australian Air Force, where we discussed the Australian-led multi-national large force employment exercise called Pitch Black.Pitch Black is a biennial exercise and this year it took place between August 19 and September 8, and it hosted over 2,000 personnel and over 80 aircraft.The exercise provides an opportunity for participating air forces to share best practices and an opportunity to test and improve force integration by utilizing one of the largest training airspace areas in the world which is over the Northern Territory and Queensland. The Royal Air Force (RAF) participated in Exercise Pitch Black this year with 4 Eurofighter Typhoons, and a Voyageur strategic air refueling tanker. A RAF A400M Atlas multi-role strategic transport aircraft supported the detachment as a sweeper.Joining me to talk about Royal Air Force participation in the exercise, and in keeping with our focus of speaking with senior leaders, is Wing Commander Noel Rees, a Typhoon pilot and Commanding Officer of No. 6 Squadron which is based at RAF Lossiemouth. Wing Commander Rees served as the RAF Detachment Commander for the exercise.We discuss the logistics of fighter aircraft traveling across the globe, flying during the exercise itself, and training opportunities the RAF was able to conduct with other forces like the Indian Air Force.Wing Commander Rees also shares his thoughts on training for air warfare in the modern age.We encourage you to listen to Episode 26 as a precursor to this episode, and we are confident you will enjoy this wide ranging and informative episode.Our thanks to RAF Wing Commander Rees for his time and insight.Go Bold!

This episode is Part 2 of our chat with retired Major-General Charles "Duff" Sullivan, who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). In this episode we pick-up by discussing the General's role as the Director of Operations for the Canadian North American Air Defense Command Region during 9/11, and the planning that went into the 2002 G8 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.The General provides us with detailed information about NORAD security for the Summit, and a briefing that he shared with the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada about the command authority to respond to incursions of the Summit's exclusion zone, and how engagement of an airborne threat would be handled. We learn that the concept of operations that the RCAF developed was briefed to the U.S. Military, who adopted a variation of it for their own security requirements post 9/11.We also discuss the General's first foray into Afghanistan; and his subsequent deployment to the country as NATO's Air Component Commander for all air assets in theatre for NATO's 42-nation coalition.While in Afghanistan the General served as the Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, where he and his colleagues stood up a Dynamic Targeting Operations Center in theatre.With those experiences in mind, the General shared his insight into what he feels are essential enablers for modern warfare in the context of counter insurgency operations.We conclude our discussion with thoughts about NATO's departure from Afghanistan, and his personal reflections on the Afghan people and their future.Throughout our 2-part discussion, the General speaks with genuine candor.As we did in Part 1, we wish to reflect on Remembrance Day and Veterans Day, and we acknowledge all those who have served in uniform, and particularly those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.We will not forget.We thank Major-General (Ret) Sullivan for his service, and for sharing his time and experiences with us. We hope that you find our discussion informative and insightful.Go Bold!

Our podcast features senior leaders in the military and in industry, and our guest fits both of those categories. Major-General Charles "Duff" Sullivan served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as a fighter pilot where he accumulated over 3,500 hours flying jet aircraft, 1,600 hours of which were flown in the CF-18 Hornet.In his military career, General Sullivan flew operational missions in the Persian Gulf, in Europe - including Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, and in Canada's high Arctic and the North Atlantic.Today, Duff Sullivan is Boeing's country leader in Canada, where he provides leadership to Boeing's interests across the country.Speaking with the General is an honor for so many reasons. In this episode you'll hear his first hand accounts of flying in Germany during the Cold War, and his service both on the ground and in the air during NATO campaigns in Europe.The General puts a very personal perspective to his accounts, and in doing so he allows us the opportunity to understand what he experienced in combat, and how those experiences affect him today.The reflections he shares are detailed, and they pay respect to the men and women he served with. The General also takes time to share his philosophy on leadership and teamwork which he developed through military service, and continues to carry on in his professional career in the aerospace and defence industry.We are publishing this episode to coincide with Remembrance Day and Veterans Day. You'll hear how the General's recollection of service evokes emotion, which is why I think he is a perfect guest to help us appreciate the significance of military service as a means to commemorate this solemn day of Remembrance.We acknowledge all those that have served in uniform, and particularly those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. We will not forget.This interview was done in October 2022, and is a 2 part back-to-back series.Go Bold!

Today's guest is our first opportunity to speak with someone serving with the Finnish Defence Forces.Seppo Aaltonen is a Senior Lieutenant in the Finnish Army Reserve (Land Forces Reserve Officer), and he is also the Chief Commercial Officer of Varjo Technologies, a company which is a leader in virtual and mixed reality headset solutions, and in cloud-enabled solutions.We begin our discussion by speaking about mandatory national service that all Finnish men are expected to perform. That requirement is rooted in the fact that Finland is an immediate neighbor of Russia, which attacked Finland in 1939 in what is known as the Winter War. That war began with a Soviet invasion three months after the outbreak of World War II, and ended three and a half months later with the Moscow Peace Treaty of March 1940.We discuss the obligations of mandatory national service, how it is conducted, and why mandatory service is meaningful to Lieutenant Aaltonen, who proudly serves Finland, a country which ranks high among the most desirable places to live in the world. A theme you will consistently hear in our discussion is that "Freedom is Not Free", a statement which rings true for all who serve in uniform, and certainly for those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.Our discussion speaks about Finland's intent to join NATO, the concept of total defence, and the need to be prepared for potential scenarios that Finland may face in light of Russia's blatant aggression against sovereign nations, as is happening in Ukraine.We also speak about virtual and mixed reality solutions which high-tech industry and the military are using for design, development and for training.Our chat is enlightening as Lieutenant Aaltonen's perspective and the context he provides is one that often isn't heard, or isn't heard enough, and that is why we at Go Bold are so proud to present voices of allied warfighters to our global audience.We thank Lieutenant Seppo Aaltonen for his time and perspective.Go Bold!