Colonel (Retired) Pierre LeBlancPrincipal of Arctic Security Consultants
Pierre was born and raised in Montréal, Québec, Canada. At 17, he joined the Canadian Forces and attended the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean in 1967. After graduating, he joined the Royal 22e Régiment (Infantry) and saw service in a number of countries including England, Germany (NATO), Cyprus (peace keeping), India and Nepal (Defence Adviser). He commanded 1Commando and the Infantry School, and held senior staff appointments in the National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ). In 1995, he took command of Canadian Forces Northern Area (Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories) where he served until his retirement in 2000.
Pierre has extensive experience in the Arctic where he first travelled on a sovereignty patrol in 1972. He has repeatedly travelled in and out of the Arctic. His command appointment as Commander of Canadian Forces Northern Area allowed him to travel extensively including Alaska and Greenland. He has lived more than nine years in the Arctic. He has been an advocate for improved security in the Arctic since 1998. He was instrumental in the revived Canadian government focus on arctic security. He has been published and repeatedly quoted in the media. He has appeared as a subject matter expert on arctic security and sovereignty on several national television channels in both French and English. He has made presentations in a number of Canadian universities. He has consulted on arctic matters with a number of federal departments, the Canadian Forces and the Canadian Senate. Pierre has provided advice to several defence related companies.
Pierre served with Raytheon Canada Limited as the Program Manager of the North Warning System from April 2014 to April 2016. The North Warning System consists of 47 air defence radars stations stretching in the Arctic from the Alaska-Yukon Border to Labrador, five logistic support sites in the Arctic, a Second Line Support Center and a Control Center located in North Bay, Ontario, as well as a Contractor Management Office in Ottawa, Ontario. During that period, he travelled the Arctic widely to nurture his arctic network of business, government and Inuit leadership contacts.
He continues to provide independent advice on the Canadian Arctic. He works with a number of associates who bring expertise in a number of fields.
He is an active participant at the Canadian Marine Advisory Council – Prairie and Northern Region. He is a Council Member with the Gerson Lehrman Group of New York, a member of the Executive Forum of the Coleman Research Group also of New York and a member of Guidepoint Global Advisors also of New York with offices around the world.
Pierre has a Bachelor degree in Sciences (1973). He holds a Royal Military College of Science (England) Division I diploma (1980), a one year, post graduate course in project management. He has a Masters degree in Business Administration from Queen’s University (1998). He is a certified diamond grader from the Gemological Institute of America (2004).
From July 28-29, 2022, the Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association (ACADA) will host the MASS Conference (MASS22) at the Delta St. John’s in Newfoundland. MASS22 will once again focus on the challenges associated with both northern and maritime environments. The aim of the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador supported international conference is to promote stakeholder collaboration, technological innovation, harsh environment research & development, and world-class education efforts that are contributing to various components of northern development. Building on the success of MASS19, coupled with the growing demands across stakeholders concerning maritime and arctic safety and security issues, and for which one entity cannot achieve solutions or policy responses in isolation. The two day conference will draw a diverse group of speakers and attendees representing government, military, Canadian and U.S. Coast Guard, industry, academic leaders, Northern Leaders, research and other key stakeholders.
