Vanguard Magazine

20 DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 www.vanguardcanada.com interview for the Future Battlespace The Need To develop INformaTIoN CapabIlITIes IntervIew wIth BGen Patrice SaBourin, DIrector General InformatIon capabIlItIes force Development (DGIcfD) T he development of informa- tion capabilities is an inte- gral part of equipping the Canadian Armed Forces to defend in the increasingly contested future battlespace. Leading the charge in this area is the newly renamed or- ganization Director General Information Capabilities Force Development (DGICFD). Formerly known as Director General Cyber, the DGICFD is transform- ing to meet the challenges in the informa- tion domain. Recently, Vanguard had the opportu- nity to speak with BGen Patrice Sabourin, DGICFD. BGen Sabourin started his career in 1987 at the Royal Military College in St- Jean. His first appointment upon gradua- tion was at 71 Comm Gp in St-Hubert. In 1997, he was posted to Ottawa to become the first Ops O of the National System Management Centre (NSMC), which eventually became the CF Network Operations Centre (CFNOC). His first appointment as a Major was at the PeopleSoft project and after two years, he returned to work at CFNOC. In 2005, BGen Sabourin was posted to Winnipeg as the Wing Telecommunications & Information Services Officer (WTISO). Promoted to LCol in 2007, he was posted back to Ottawa as the Technical Services Officer (TSO) for the Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa) (CFSU(O)). In 2009, he was posted to Bagotville as the Wing Logistics and Engineering Officer (WLEO). He then returned to Ottawa for the third time and worked at the Air Staff in the new Directorate of Air Domain Development (DADD). Promoted to Colonel in 2014, he was appointed the Director of Cyber Force Development and appointed as Commander Canadian Forces Information Operations Group (CFIOG). He was promoted to his current rank in June 2018 and was appointed the Director General Information Management Operations. BGen Sabourin is currently the Director General Information Capabilities Force Development (DGICFD). Q Given that the DGICFD is a new position within the IM Group, what man- date have you been given, and how does DGICFD intersect with other organiza- tions and mandates across the CAF J6, Assistant Deputy Minister (Information Management)/Defence Chief Information Officer Organization (ADM(IM)/Defence CIO and DND/CAF? By MARCELLO SUKHDEO

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