Episode 3.15: Medium Risk, Medium Reward

In episode 15 of Battle Rhythm's third season, Steve and co-host Thomas Hughes, Assistant Professor at Mt. Allison University, discuss the impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the arctic, Canadians intercepting Chinese naval ships sailing through Arctic international waters along with far-right riots in the UK and with a final twist, Ukraine’s incursion into Russian territory. Today's feature interview is with our new Visiting Defence Fellow, Col Nick Roby. Colonel Nickolas Roby joined the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserves in the rank of Gunner in 1997, and was commissioned into The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery in 2002. He has since commanded at the Troop, Battery, Rifle Company, as the Commandant of The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery School, and more recently, was the Commander of the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group (2022-2024). Serving in a variety of key staff assignments in Ottawa, Colonel Roby served as the Canadian Army analyst at Chief of Program, Executive Assistant to Commander Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, as the coordinator to Deputy Chief-of-Staff Operations at the Canadian Army Headquarters, and as the Senior Military Assistant to the Minister of National Defence. Colonel Roby was employed as the Director of Army Personnel Management (G1) at the Canadian Army HQ from 2020 to 2022. Operationally, Colonel Roby deployed to Afghanistan with the International Security Assistance Force as the Deputy Commander of Brigade Troops, and Operations Officer of Combined Team Kandahar City Brigade HQ in 2009-10. In support of the United Nations, he deployed twice with the Mission de l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour la Stabilisation en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO) in 2013 and 2016. Colonel Roby is a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Armed Forces College, Toronto. He holds a Baccalaureate in Arts from St. Thomas University, and a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada. Colonel Roby is married to Jessica, and they lead an active lifestyle racing from one sporting activity to another with their four young children: Chloé, Maëva, Félix, and Kallee.