Vanguard Magazine

GAME CHANGER 30 JUNE/JULY 2022 www.vanguardcanada.com See the full interview online Q How did you start out in this industry and how has it brought you to where you are today? My relationship with the industry began decades ago, which is the case for many military professionals in Canada. The Canadian Armed Forces relies on indus- try-produced equipment to protect and defend this great Nation, and it's devel- oped by dedicated professionals from a wide range of industries. The industry knows that we need to protect our mili- tary professionals, who often put their very lives on the line. This alignment of respect, resolve and professional ethos has been the foundation of this relation- ship to this day, in or out of uniform. Q What is your role at your organization today ? Aerospace is deeply woven into the fab- ric of Canada, thanks to a century of ex- traordinary vision and leadership of so many Canadians before us. The vastness of Canada requires the incredible power of science and technology to connect us. It also requires technology to cover the demanding environmental conditions unique to our territories – from Ocean to Ocean to Ocean, sea level up to the top of our Rocky Mountains, to the north Pole and globally. The next notable milestone is the full integration of high-endurance, long-range Remotely Piloted Aircraft Sys- tems (RPAS). General Atomics Aeronau- tical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been the world leader in RPAS for 30 years in de- veloping, implementing, and fielding this new aerospace sector in numerous regions around the globe. My role with GA-ASI is to set this strategic development course in Canada from an industry, key enabler and key stakeholders' perspective. Q What was your most challenging moment? Like any sizeable scientific or technologi- cal breakthrough, past or present, leading the advancement of an entire field of capa- bilities comes with proportionate respon- sibilities, as facing these unique challenges will test the resolve of your organization. The advent of RPAS will succeed through the combined strength of innovating na- tions, their industrial leadership, regula- tors, policy makers, and the wide range of operators. Q What was your A-HA moment or epiphany that you think will resonate most with our readers, tell us that story. Early in my more than 35-year career, I was taught that people ARE the organiza- tion. I understood that scale had no bear- ing. It could be a small organization or a 100,000-person organization. Regardless, it is people that determine the organiza- tion's success or failure. The epiphany for me came when seeking: where from an or- ganizational structure perspective, should leadership reside? Of course, the answer is that leadership resides at every level, from individuals who are directly tied to an or- ganization's success. Q What is the one thing that has you most fired up today? I'm learning every single day. It is hum- bling, on one hand, and sobering on the other to think that time is against me. But more importantly, it is so inspiring because everything I learn, I learn from others. MICHEL LALUMIERE INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR CANADA GENERAL ATOMICS AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS, INC. (GA-ASI) Q What is the best advice you received? I was truly fortunate on one fateful day to meet a fantastic professional who gave me the best advice. When facing a complex problem in an organization, you will work to the solution with established or new colleagues with an astonishing wide range of skills, talent, trades and experience lev- els, all working against the clock. So, the advice I received is that the hardest thing we will ever have to do as leaders, by far, is to communicate effectively. Q What is a habit that contributes to your success? In a leadership or an authority relation- ship, the importance of communication gets amplified, therefore more efforts and time will be required. Make no mistake: often this could mean a lot of listening. I seek this performance from all leaders I work with – up, down, horizontal – re- gardless of the structural hierarchy. Q What is your parting piece of advice? Regardless how technically focused your organization might be, administratively focused, or a free-thinking structure, be sure to spend ample time communicating with your team. (Hint: you will run out of time.) Q What people or organizations do you believe best embody the innovation mindset? (Does not have to relate to the defence & security industry, can be related to your everyday life) I would argue you need equal doses of critical thinking habits, institutional em- powerment, emotional commitment. Questioning the status quo is the premise of innovation. General Atomics Aeronau- tical has been pushing and continues to challenge the limits of innovation; think- ing and accepting that the most promis- ing path to solutions might come from another field or sector.

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