Vanguard Magazine

6 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 www.vanguardcanada.com EDITOR'S NOTE Information is a strategic asset that fuels or- ganizations. Throughout history, informa- tion has been gathered and kept in a format that can be shared and used to make in- formed decisions. Today, information is still a valuable commodity, but what has changed is the format – from paper to digital. This strategic asset is being collected and used today in a digital format. The paper- based format is being transformed into a digital format for ease of storage and ac- cessibility that decision-makers can use in making proper assessments. According to the Defence Information Management Plan 2019-2022, having "timely, trust- ed, and secure information that can be shared across the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces is the foundation of sound, evi- dence-based decision-making." By analyz- ing information, DND/CAF can tell how well they are performing in business and operations. But to move from a paper- based environment to a digital one re- quires some changes. In this issue of Vanguard, we are excited to share with you a roundtable discus- sion with RAdm Jeff Zwick, Chief of SSE Combat Systems Integration, Canadian Armed Forces and Christiana Cavazzoni, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Information Management, and Deputy Chief Information Officer, Department of National Defence about these changes. Both of these defence players have been instrumental in the ongoing digital jour- ney within DND/CAF. They have also spoken about the vital need to make these changes within our defence environment. In their latest presentations at C4ISR and Beyond 2021, RAdm Zwick and Ms. Cavazzoni delved into digital as being the core of C4ISR and delivering digital through partnerships respectively. In this issue, we are carrying on that digital jour- ney conversation. With information growing at an unprec- edented rate, the risk of drowning in the information sea is very high. On a human level, having too much information makes it much more difficult to make proper decisions. The answer, AI? In the first of two articles in this issue by Col Richard Fawcett (Ret'd), the role of AI in mitigat- ing this risk is considered. He examines the role and benefit of AI in dealing with the potential information overload risk in deployed tactical HQs. Digitalization or digital transformation has been shoved to the forefront today due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In her ar- ticle, Digital Transformation – The Future of Today's Economy, Shannon McClure writes about defence organizations are fac- ing many challenges due to the pandemic and the need to be doing business digitally. There is a great need for these organiza- tions to transform and invest in the latest digital technologies, not only to fuel a ma- jor shift in the industry, but also to thrive beyond the immediate horizon. In continuing the theme of digital, Col Richard Fawcett (Ret'd) writes in his sec- ond article in this issue about how everyone in the CAF needs to be a Digital Warfighter. A Digital Warfighter is any soldier, sailor, or aviator whose combat responsibilities in- clude establishing and maintaining digital systems, using digital tools and systems, and those impacted by digitization. As the CAF continues its digital transformation journey, it must take the broad approach of training its Digital Warfighters. Digital training, Col Richard Fawcett (Ret'd) points out, must be institutionalized, and ingrained into the CAF operational culture, so that it becomes second nature, just like weapons training is today. To warp this issue of Vanguard, I would like to introduce our Game Changers: Meet Christine Griffin, Head of Sales, Account Management and Client Services of Express Scripts Canada, and Shlomo Bielak, Chief Technology Officer of Benchmark Corp. Thanks for taking the time to read this edition. Stay safe. Terri Pavelic, Editor-in-Chief EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | TERRI PAVELIC terri@promotivemedia.ca PUBLISHER AND EXECUTIVE EDITOR | J. RICHARD JONES john@promotivemedia.ca MANAGING EDITOR | MARCELLO SUKHDEO marcello@promotivemedia.ca CONTRIBUTORS JEFF DOOLING WAYNE DORRIS COL RICHARD FAWCETT (RET'D) SHANNON MCCLURE EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD LGEN STUART BEARE (RET'D) COL RICHARD FAWCETT (RET'D) CAPT(N) NORM JOLIN (RET'D) COL PIERRE LEBLANC (RET'D) CARINNA LIN SHANNON MCCLURE SALES DIRECTOR, CONTENT & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT | DAVID BLONDEAU david@promotivemedia.ca ART & PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR | ELENA PANKOVA elena@promotivemedia.ca SUBSCRIPTIONS AND ADDRESS CHANGES CIRCULATION SERVICES | circulation@promotivemedia.ca Publisher's Mail Agreement: 40052410 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to circulation dept. 21374, 2nd Concession Rd, East Gwillimbury, ON, L9N 0H7 Vanguard magazine is published 6 times per year by Promotive Communications Inc. All opinions expressed herein are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or any person or organization associated with the magazine. Letters, submissions, comments and suggested topics are welcome, and should be sent to marcello@promotivemedia.ca REPRINT INFORMATION: Reproduction or photocopying is prohibited without the publisher's prior written consent. High quality reprints of articles and additional copies of the magazine are available through circulation@promotivemedia.ca PRIVACY POLICY: We do not sell our mailing list or share any confidential information on our subscribers. VANGUARD OFFICE 21374, 2nd Concession Rd, East Gwillimbury, ON, L9N 0H7 Phone: (905) 727-3875 Fax: (905) 727-4428 THE FORUM FOR CANADA'S SECURITY AND DEFENCE COMMUNITY

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