Speakers
Home / Conference / KCIS 2022 / Mark Riley
Dr. Mark Riley
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Dr Riley is currently the Program Manager for Arctic and Field Experimentation within the Defend North America Strategic focus area. Mark has undergraduate degrees in Physics and Civil Engineering as well as a Doctorate in Civil Engineering from Dalhousie University. Dr Riley is currently the Canadian Lead for the Environmental Working Group within ICE-PPR. Mark started his career at Defence Research and Development (DRDC) - Atlantic Research Centre where he was a scientific researcher in ship structures, underwater explosions and numerical modeling. However, since 2011 Dr Riley has primarily worked on the Arctic file, spanning many roles, within DRDC. These roles include policy work within the Arctic R&D file, where he led the development of the Arctic R&D Strategy for DRDC in 2013. Mark was heavily involved in the program formulation of DRDCs first Arctic focused program, All Domain Situational Awareness. In his current role Mark is involved with the formulation of the Continental Defence program within the Defend North America program and for Arctic and continental defence technology demonstrations.
Conference Abstract
Arctic Indigenous Diplomacy in the New Era
Canadian Defence Interests in the Arctic: ‘Partnering in the Context of Defence and Security R&D’
Although the Arctic has always been an extremely challenging operational environment, we are now facing a crisis point. Mounting geopolitical threats, rapidly increasing technological advances, multiplying non-kinetic risks (cyber, disinformation), and a changing climate collectively ensure the protection that geography once provided North America is quickly eroding. As a result, new solutions not only require a national effort, but demand robust bi-national cooperation, through the NORAD agreement, and international collaboration with other Arctic states and NATO partners, as well as the engagement of indigenous peoples and non-traditional actors. With many common requirements shared between Arctic states, advanced R&D is required to chronicle change, serve a warning function, offer insights into the scope and nature of the impacts being witnessed, and most importantly provide advice on potential solutions to address the evolving environmental realities we now face. Given the vastness of scope associated with the Arctic, no one nation can address these challenges alone. Therefore, collaboration and cooperation within the R&D community is required to provide knowledge based advice on potential solutions. This presentation will provide insight into:
Observed environmental and climate changes and the operational effects they create;
How Arctic Defence R&D fits into the national defence and security priorities, and how these, in turn, translate to the bi-national and international levels;
How DRDC works within the national, bi-national, and international domains to access innovation and collaborate with expertise within Canadian industry, academia and Allies;
Insights into the current framework available for engagement at all three levels; and
An examination of some of expanding areas of R&D which will require a collaborative and cooperative approach nationally, bi-nationally, and internationally.
