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.
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