Department of National Defence: The Security and Defence Forum and

Department of National Defence: The Security and Defence Forum and the Policy Officer Recruitment Programme A presentation to the International Association for Intelligence Education Annual Conference Ottawa, Ontario 27 May 2010

The Security and Defence Forum (SDF) • The SDF is $2.5 million/year class-grant program managed by the Policy Group at National Defence to: • build and support a strong Canadian knowledge base on defence issues; • foster informed public policy discussion and commentary; and, • enhance communication and interaction between the academic community and DND/CF.

The Security and Defence Forum (SDF) • The SDF includes: • Grants to 12 Centres of Expertise and a Chair of Defence Management Studies to assist them in teaching, research, and publications relevant to the field; • Awards, such as scholarships and internships, to candidates pursing studies in security, defence, defence management or related disciplines; and, • Special Project grants to promote conferences, or other unique initiatives that are directly relevant to the mandate of the SDF.

First Principles • In its four-decade history, the SDF program has evolved to the point where a strong complement of knowledgeable but independent experts can be called upon to discuss security and defence issues with national and international implications. • A large measure of the SDF’s success stems from the Department’s long-standing commitment to ensuring the academic independence of the SDF community.

First Principles (continued) • By maintaining an objective and clearly “arms-length” relationship with the SDF community, academics, in turn, are at liberty to conduct research and take controversial positions on important issues. • Though as a Department we may not always share their perspectives on issues or policies, the SDF community contributes to the policy debate in Canada.

SDF Centres of Expertise Many key members of the Canadian academic community interested in defence issues are either resident at, or associated with, an SDF Centre.

SDF Centres of Expertise • Annually: • engage approximately 11,000 students each year; • write or contribute to more than 600 publications; • conduct more than 900 media interviews; • produce more than 100 op-ed pieces; and, • testify before Parliamentary Committees.

SDF Awards Awards for graduate and post-graduate studies, as well as internships relating to Canadian security and defence. Selection Committee determines recipients, based on scholarly merit and relevance to the field. Concerted effort to engage the next generation of Canadian scholars: once a year, all SDF Award winners and one leading student from each SDF Centre of Expertise invited to Ottawa for a series of briefings and discussions with defence officials.

SDF Awards 8 x Master’s level scholarships at $10,000; 3 x Doctoral level scholarships at $20,000 plus one at $22,500; 2 x post-Doctoral fellowships at $35,000; $10,000 a year is set aside to fund Aboriginal scholars; and, 4 x one-year internships, providing recent graduates with relevant work experience in security and defence-related Canadian organizations, valued at $35,000,

SDF Special Projects • The SDF includes: • a Special Projects Fund for non-recurring, financial support to a maximum of $10,000 to projects that serve the mandate of the Forum. • These can include organizing and participating in conferences and workshops, as well as various research activities;

SDF Special Projects • The SDF includes: • Travel funding to encourage varied perspectives at domestic conferences and Canadian voices at international conferences; • and, • Briefing tours to operations, bases or headquarters.

Engagement and Dialogue Business Meeting of Centre Directors every spring includes briefings and opportunities for discussions with senior officials. In the fall, an SDF Centre of Expertise hosts a major conference and offers defence officials an opportunity to engage the academic community. Good links with bases at local and regional levels. Monthly visits and briefings at NDHQ.

The SDF and Intelligence Studies SDF pleased to be able to encourage studies and interest in intelligence issues, but it is one of several areas of interest for the Canadian academic community. Approximately one third of the SDF Centres offer a small number of courses on national security, statecraft and intelligence from both historic and contemporary perspectives. Similarly, there have typically been a small number of award winners studying topics of relevance to the field. Support for the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies annual conference.

The Security and Defence Forum The Department seeks a Security and Defence Forum that is representative, varied in its interests, and diverse in its strengths. The SDF program has evolved to the point where a strong complement of experts can be called upon to discuss security and defence issues with national and international implications. It also produces the young people who will be our policy experts of the future.

The Policy Officer Recruitment Programme (PORP) The Policy Officer Recruitment Programme (PORP) is a development programme designed to recruit and develop talented policy officers to work for the Department of National Defence. Designed to meet the unique needs of the defence policy environment. Approximately 10 policy officers are hired annually, although numbers can vary depending on need. Candidates must have at least a Graduate degree. Typical candidates have degrees in a defence-related field such as history, political science, international affairs, public administration or a related discipline. They must also have experience in researching and writing on subjects related to defence, security or government policies at the graduate level.

The Policy Officer Recruitment Programme (PORP) University-based recruiting visits to all major Canadian campuses; a strong web presence; and, simple word of mouth through current members of the Policy Group or University faculty. Successful applicants are hired as full-time, indeterminate employees in the Policy Group at National Defence Headquarters and can compete for other DND or government jobs at any time. Typically promoted out of the programme within two to three years.

The Policy Officer Recruitment Programme Individual assignments vary, but members are rotated into new positions every year to gain a variety of experiences. Allows new policy officers to work in several areas including: public policy, policy development, strategic analysis, international security policy and parliamentary affairs. Assignments to other organizations within National Defence Headquarters, such as strategic intelligence or public affairs, and to other government departments. Travel opportunities and occasional foreign assignments

The Policy Officer Recruitment Programme While in the Programme, policy officer work on various tasks, including preparing responses to Ministerial Inquiries, conducting research on a broad range of issues, delivering oral briefings, and preparing reports, analyses, speeches and other types of written material. These assignments will allow them to further develop their analytical, interpersonal, teamwork, written and oral communication skills as well as their knowledge of policy development, machinery of government and issue management.

The Policy Officer Recruitment Programme: Training In welcoming new officers to the public service and the complex defence environment, we offer a comprehensive Orientation Week, continuous learning opportunities, and informal Brown-Bag lunches. A mentoring programme has been in place for several years. Second-language training. Base Tour

The Policy Officer Recruitment Programme (PORP) Every year, about 1,300 interested Canadians apply as a part of the competition. Over 20 years, the programme has evolved into a successful recruitment and development opportunity. Most of its graduates are still working in the Canadian public service, a clear contribution to public service renewal while also strengthening the policy function in government. It has also produced a number of leaders within the public service – 13% of the historic PORP community are now Executives.

PORP and the Canadian Intelligence Community Interaction with members of the Canadian intelligence community, particularly defence intelligence, is part of the typical working relationship for policy officers at NDHQ. Specific assignments at Chief Defence Intelligence as well as previous assignments with CSIS. Eight percent of the historic PORP community works within the Canadian intelligence community at a number levels ranging from analyst to senior leadership including Chief Defence Intelligence, Communications Security Establishment Canada, CSIS, and the Privy Council Office.

Department of National Defence: The Security and Defence Forum and the Policy Officer Recruitment Programme More information at: http://www.forces.gc.ca/admpol

Department of National Defence: The Security and Defence Forum and