Communicating Strategically: The Need for the Canadian Armed Forces to Adapt to Today’s Information Environment
Date
Wednesday May 17, 202312:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Location
Queen’s University, Robert Sutherland Hall Rm. 202 | Online via Zoom
Communicating Strategically: the Need for the Canadian Armed Forces to Adapt to Today’s Information Environment
In a highly contested and competitive information environment that has national security implications, the Canadian Armed Forces must adapt how it communicates or risk irrelevance to itself, its nation, and to its Allies.
Bio:
Colonel Ryan Jurkowski joined the Canadian Armed Forces as a Sapper in 1993 with 3 Field Engineer Squadron prior to receiving his commission and joining the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. Colonel Jurkowski then proudly served with the Van Doos from 1997-1999 prior to changing his Regimental Affiliation to the PPCLI in 1999.
Regimental service included participation in various domestic operations with tours to Bosnia from1999-2001 as the Anti-Armour Platoon Commander, Afghanistan in 2006 and 2009-2010 in Combat Teams, in Kuwait from 2014-2015 as the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve DCJ5,and most recently in Iraq and Kuwait as the with Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve as the Director of Strategic Communications from 2021-2022.
Staff positions were with the Joint Staff under the then-DCDS Group as the Africa Operations Desk Officer from 2002-2005, Executive Assistant to Commander 3rd Cdn Div from 2007-2008, Executive Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Staff J5 in NATO’s Joint Force Command Brunssum from 2011-2013, Chief of Canadian Army Capability Integration at the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre from2013-2014, Assistant Chief of Staff at the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre from 2014-2015,the J3 at the 1st Cdn Div from 2017-2018, the Director of Programmes at the Canadian Forces College from 2018-2020, and the Canadian Defence Academy Chief of Staff from 2020-2021. Colonel Jurkowski had the privilege to command the 5th Cdn Div Training Centre from 2015-2017.
Colonel Jurkowski is currently a Visiting Defence Fellow at Queen's University.In addition to national and international commendations, Colonel Jurkowski has been awarded the US Joint Service Commendation Medal, a Mention-in-Dispatch, and the Meritorious Service Medal. Colonel Jurkowski has a Masters in Defence Studies.
Colonel Jurkowski is married and the couple have a son and a daughter.
Research areas of interest:
- Professional Military Education
- Strategic Communications
- Contemporary Operations