Vanguard Magazine

26 DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 www.vanguardcanada.com G A M E C H A N G E R See the full interview online Q What led you to enter the industry and how has that journey taken you to where you are today? Twenty years ago, I was a fresh-faced graduate student at the University of Cal- gary looking to pursue a master's degree in wireless communications. General Dy- namics offered me a unique opportunity to collaborate with them towards the re- search, design and development of a dy- namic routing protocol for large-scale tac- tical networks. This opportunity ignited my passion for the defence industry and the company I have called home for most of my professional career. Q What is your role at your organization today? As Technology Strategy and Product Portfolio Manager for our Land and Joint Solutions Tactical Communications and Information System (TacCIS) line of business, my role involves building a vision, market strategy, and roadmap for delivering a portfolio of TacCIS products to defence markets around the world. Q What was your most challenging moment? When my daughter was five years old, she asked me what I did for my profes- sion. I explained it to her, and her next question was "do you help harm peo- ple?" To say I was unprepared for this question from a five-year-old would be an understatement. I carefully explained the purpose of the defence and security industry then elaborated on how my specific role was to provide innovative solutions to one of the most challeng- ing problems facing soldiers today: how to communicate reliably, efficiently, and securely in the most dynamic, turbulent, and disrupted environments, so they can achieve their mission of preserving our daily freedoms and keeping civilians like she and I safe. Suffice to say this ex- planation was provided with Legos and toy accessories rather than technical dia- grams but she understood and appreci- ates it to this day. Q Do you have an A-HA moment that you think will resonate most with our readers?. This past summer I visited the Calgary Stampede where I was able to tour in- side several of the Canadian Army's combat vehicles. During one of my stops in a Canadian Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV), a young soldier started explain- ing the different communication devices he used during his missions. As he spoke about these devices, he vividly described how their capabilities positively affected his mission. His passionate description of the vehicle and the capabilities and features we had designed for him was a resounding reminder that yes, what we do really matters and makes a difference in people's lives. Furthermore, the differ- ence between a flawed and near flawless design could be the difference between life and death. Having the opportunity to connect with front line soldiers who make use of the technology we produce was truly a special feeling. Q What is the one thing that has you most fired up today? A new law was passed in the UK where ve- hicle manufacturers were to be held liable for accidents traceable to the self-driving features of a car. With the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in commercial industries and soon-to-come widespread adoption in the defence and security industry, this new UK law is a reminder that while AI and ML have undeniable benefits, we must also apply great thought, care and diligence in determining how it is ulti- mately employed on the battlefield. Rapid advances in AI have given rise to a new generation of lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) that can identify, track and attack targets without human inter- vention. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) with AI-enabled weaponry and autono- mous navigation certainly reduce risk and loss of life to fighter pilots, but what hap- pens when a UAV accidently strikes an unintended target? Technological innova- tion is undoubtedly important to push the boundaries of our capabilities, but in the defence industry one must also consider a level of enforceable ethics alongside those solutions. Q What is the best advice you received? Technology shouldn't get in the way of mission success. The intent is not to overengineer a product, but to make a product that works when and where it's most needed. The best advice I received is to understand these principles and ap- ply them through design concepts when devising new solutions. Q What is a habit that contributes to your success? I'm surrounded by brilliant engineers, highly experienced program managers, and well-rounded business leaders who are always willing to impart invaluable knowledge. I make a habit of engaging these people as often as I can to learn things you can't pick up in a book. DR. EMEKA E. EGBOGAH TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY AND PRODUCT PORTFOLIO MANAGER GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS - CANADA

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