stephen.saideman@carleton.ca

Stephen M. Saideman is the Paterson Chair in International Affairs at Carleton University. His research interests focus on the causes and consequences of intervention into intra-state conflicts. He has written books on the international relations of secession, why there were both more and less wars in Eastern Europe after the end of the Cold War, on NATO in Afghanistan, and on Canada’s Afghanistan experience. His current research focus is on the role of legislatures in democratic civil-military relations. He teaches courses on Contemporary International Security, Civil-Military Relations and US Foreign and Defence Policy.

melissa.jennings@carleton.ca

Melissa Jennings has worked on various research and development projects globally as a Project Manager, Capacity Builder and Field Coordinator. Past work has included INGO’s (UN Women, World Vision), local CBO’s, government (including DND), universities and private sector clients in Canada, USA, Kenya, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, India, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, South Africa, Botswana and Uganda. She holds an MA in War Studies from the Royal Military College as well as a BA (Double Major) in Political Science and International Development Studies from Dalhousie University. She is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity at SUNY-Albany.

The son of an Air Force Chief Warrant Officer, Colonel Shawn Guilbault grew up in such exotic locales as Winnipeg, Cold Lake, and Ottawa. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2001 as a Guardsman with the Governor General’s Foot Guards in Ottawa, ON. Graduating from the University of Ottawa, he was commissioned as an Aerospace Control Officer (AEC) into the Royal Canadian Air Force in 2006.

Following occupational training at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations in Cornwall, ON and 51 Aerospace Control & Warning (Operational Training) Squadron [51 AC&W(OT)] in North Bay, ON, he was posted to 42 Radar Squadron in Cold Lake, AB, as a Tactical Fighter Controller. Transferred to the 552d Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City in 2009, he qualified as an Air Weapons Officer and Senior Director aboard the USAF E-3 AWACS. There, he worked as Deputy Chief of Tactics and Flight Commander at the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron (AACS), as a Flight Commander at the 960th AACS, and deployed with the 963rd EAACS in support of Op ENDURING FREEDOM.

In 2012, he returned to Cold Lake where he was assigned to the Fighter Standards and Evaluations Team (FSET) as AEC Fighter Weapons Instructor Course Director, as well as AECSET as the 1 Canadian Air Division staff officer for air battle management and air defence standards. Posted to the Canadian Air Defence Sector (CADS) in 2014, he worked as a Flight Commander and NORAD Mission Crew Commander at 21 AC&W Squadron. In 2015, he was privileged to assume command of 51 AC&W(OT) Squadron, leading an outstanding unit in the development of new initial training for air battle management and air surveillance operations.

Shawn spent a blessed year at the United Kingdom’s Joint Services Command and Staff College in 2017, before returning to the 552d ACW in 2018 as Commanding Officer of Canadian Detachment Tinker. He also served as a Mission Crew Commander supporting NORAD, counter-narcotics operations, as well as Op INHERENT RESOLVE. Leaving the Sooner State in 2021, he took up the role of Deputy Director Digital Transformation on the staff of Chief Combat Systems Integration in Ottawa, while he and his family re-learned how to ‘do winter’ properly again after four years abroad.

In July 2022, Colonel Guilbault was promoted to his current rank and assumed the position of Director Plans North America within the Strategic Joint Staff. He is excited to join Carleton University as Visiting Defence Fellow for 2025-26.

Throughout his career, he has accumulated nearly 1500 flying hours aboard the E-3 AWACS, including 65 combat and combat support missions. He is a graduate of the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course and the UK’s Advanced Command and Staff Course, and holds degrees from the Universities of Ottawa, Oklahoma, and King’s College London.

Throughout his career, he has been grateful for the support of his wonderful wife and their three amazing daughters.

Garon Mulyk (He/Him) is a PhD student at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University. His PhD research focuses on why countries form legal and operational surrounding domestic extremism, hate crimes, and terrorism among Five Eye (FVEY) countries and how these understandings compare to and may influence public perception. Garon's research will compare and contrast four countries participating in the intelligence alliance: Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Garon's previous research focused on understanding the various threats facing Canada's national security and public safety through conceptualizing the National Security-Public Safety Continuum. He received his Master's in Criminology from Ontario Tech University and his Bachelor's in Sociology from the University of Alberta.

Hannah Christensen is a Research Assistant at the CDSN and Master's student in Security and Defence Policy at NPSIA (Carleton University). She is a recipient of the 2024 Women in Defence and Security (WiDS) Scholarship and a Senior Advisor (and Podcast Coordinator!) to the NATO Field School at Simon Fraser University.

Racheal Zara Wallace is currently working on her Ph.D. at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA), Carleton University. Her research interest includes natural resource governance, property rights and development, intrastate and interstate conflicts, conflict management, and civil-military relations. Racheal has previously worked with NGOs and the education sector. She received her master’s degree in Global Business Administration from Keimyung University, South Korea, and a bachelor’s degree in social work and the Study of Religions from the University of Ghana. Racheal’s previous works have appeared in the Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia, Journal of International Trade and Commerce and Canada Among Nations.