Centre for Defence and Security Studies

Director
Dr. Andrea Charron
Professor of Political Studies

Dr. Andrea Charron holds a Ph.D. from the Royal Military College of Canada (Department of War Studies). She obtained a Masters in International Relations from Webster University, Leiden, The Netherlands, a Master’s of Public Administration from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Queen’s University. Her research and teaching areas include NORAD, the Arctic, foreign and defence policy and sanctions. She has published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Charron worked for various federal departments including the Privy Council Office in the Security and Intelligence Secretariat and the Canada Revenue Agency.

• More about Dr. Andrea Charron

Deputy Director
Dr. Thomas Hughes

Dr. Thomas Hughes is Assistant Professor at Mount Allison. Thomas’ primary areas of research are confidence building, deterrence, and strategic culture. He is currently focusing on threat perception and defence policy in the Arctic. His award-winning dissertation focused on the political effects of military exercises in Europe. Thomas gained his BA (Honours) from Durham University, his MA from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, Denver, and PhD from Queen’s University.  

Senior Scholar
Dr. James Fergusson
Professor of Political Studies

Dr. James Fergusson received his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Masters' degrees from the University of Manitoba, and his Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia in 1989. He taught a range of courses in the areas of international relations, foreign and defence policy, and strategic studies. He has published numerous articles on strategic studies, non-proliferation and arms control, the defence industry, and Canadian foreign and defence policy. Coauthor of NORAD: In Perpetuity and Beyond (MQUP, 2022).

Visiting Defence Fellow
Col Laura Gagné (RCAF)

Col Gagné is a Logistics Officer with the RCAF. She has a Bachelor of Commerce, St Mary’s University and a Master of Defence Studies, Royal Canadian Military College. She has received Canadian Force Decoration, and the Commander Canadian Joint Operations Commendation.

UM is only 1 of 3 universities (Queen's and Carleton) to have a VDF.

Military Liaison
Mr. Warren Otto, M.A. Academic Advisor, Military Support Office, UM

Mr. David Babb, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD candidate at the Centre for Earth Observation Science, University of Manitoba

Mr. Troy Bouffard, University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Management for the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Program

Dr. Alfredo Camacho, Department Head, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba

Dr. Andrea Charron, Professor of Political Studies, University of Manitoba

Dr. James Fergusson, Senior Scholar of Political Studies, University of Manitoba

Dr. Thomas Hughes, Deputy Director CDSS

Ms. Yulia Ivaniuk Squires, Coordinator, Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies, University of Manitoba

MGen (ret) Denis Thompson, Canadian Armed Forces

Dr. Sherman Xiaogang Lai, PhD Queen's University, Former researcher at the Academy of Military Science of the Chinese Liberation Army (PLA)

Mr. Omar Martin Tejada Perez, PhD candidate, Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Manitoba. Retired Marine Officer of the Peruvian Navy, former United Nations Peacekeeper. 

General RR (Ray) Henault, OC, CM, CMM, MSC, CD, LLD, BA (Ret'd), Canadian Defence Associations Institute

Mr. Bill E. Featherstone, ExtEd/91, BA/18, MA/20, University of Manitoba

Dr. Emmanuel Goffi, Director, Observatoire Éthique & Intelligence Artificielle de l'Institut Sapiens, Paris, France

Dr. Andrew Latham, Professor, Department of Political Science, Macalester College

Dr. Richard (Rick) Linden (Major-General ret.), Professor of Sociology, University of Manitoba

Dr. Adam Muller, Associate Professor of English, University of Manitoba

Dr. Bryan Peeler, Assistant Professor, Political Studies, University of Manitoba

Janice Tilly, PhD candidate, University of Manitoba

Liz Hydesmith, PhD candidate, University of Manitoba

Nicholas Glesby, PhD candidate, Trent University

Joseph Harding, PhD candidate, University of Manitoba

Lindsay Speirs, MA candidate, University of Manitoba

Sasha Tiaglei, Undergraduate Research Award winner, University of Manitoba

Liou Van Tichelen, Undergraduate

Cooper Roy, Undergraduate

The Centre for Defence and Security Studies (CDSS) was established by the Senate of the University of Manitoba in 1993. The Centre is based upon the Programme in Strategic Studies which was established in 1986 on the reception of the first grant from the Canadian Department of National Defence's Military and Strategic Studies (MSS) Programme. The Centre is Canada's major defence research centre of the Prairies (from Lakehead to the Alberta border) attracting both scholars and students to the study of defence and international security studies. As Winnipeg is the home of the Royal Canadian Airforce and the Canadian NORAD Regional Headquarters, the CDSS serves as an important resource for the Canadian Armed Forces here in Manitoba. Whether it is the lectures CDSS fellows deliver to Barker College or to reserve units, or programming for serving military to complete their undergraduate or graduate degrees, the CDSS has a unique relationship with 17 Wing, Barker College, 1 CAD and 2 CAD.