Episode 3.39: Wicked Problems with Jody Thomas

In episode 39 of season 3, co-hosts Linna Tam-Seto (Assistant Professor Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy within the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto) and Steve Saideman discuss the lack of women CAF members on current Peacekeeping postings and the challenges of committing Canada’s army to additional operations. They also discuss the implications of a new story of 5 CAF members suspended for hateful behavior and the impacts this may have on recruitment targets in the future. In today's feature interview, Steve discusses oversight and procurement with former Deputy Minister of Defence, Jody Thomas. Jody Thomas recently retired from the federal public service as National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister. Jody has broad and varied experience working at senior levels in the Public Service and in a series of increasingly demanding security operations roles. She joined the naval reserves at age 17 and was among the first women to serve on a Canadian military vessel. Jody began her public service career in 1988 when she was appointed Chief of Business Planning and Administration with Public Works and Government Services Canada’s Atlantic Region. From 1995-2010, she held increasingly senior roles at Passport Canada, culminating in Chief Operating Officer. In 2010, Ms. Thomas joined the Canadian Coast Guard where she held the positions of Deputy Commissioner of Operations and Commissioner of the Coast Guard. In March 2017, she joined the Department of National Defence where she served as Senior Associate Deputy Minister. She was appointed as Deputy Minister of National Defence in October 2017, a role in which she served until January 2022. Jody holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University.