USSTRATCOM hosts Canadian Armed Forces Strategic Joint Staff director of staff

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. “ U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) senior leaders hosted Maj. Gen. Chuck Lamarre, Canadian Armed Forces Strategic Joint Staff director, at USSTRATCOM Headquarters, Sept. 21, as part the commands ongoing effort to build, sustain and support partnerships with ally nations.

Lamarre said the primary reason for his visit was to deepen the relationship between the U.S. and Canada, highlighting regional security as one of the key shared interests between the two nations.

œBy virtue of being [geographically located in] the North American continent, we have a responsibility to help each other, Lamarre said. œWe have a common interest for the security of North America and the United States is our primary partner.

Adm. Cecil D. Haney, USSTRATCOM commander, also noted the close collaboration between the two nations and the value of sharing ideas.

œDuring General Lamarres visit today, my staff and I participated in rich discussions on a variety of issues related to deterrence and the strategic security environment writ large, Haney said. Engagements like these are very important as they enable the U.S. and Canada, one of our closest allies, to share ideas and perspectives as we continue to strengthen our relationship and address 21st century challenges.

While here, Lamarre attended USSTRATCOM mission briefings and held discussions with subject matter experts on the shared mission areas for the Strategic Joint Staff and USSTRATCOM.

œUSSTRATCOM has a critical role in looking at a number of aspects that are of interest to Canada - whether [its] cyber, space or any other aspect of strategic defence, theres quite a bit of interoperability that takes place, Lamarre said. œWe need to make sure that we have a way to work together.

Lamarre went on to say that strengthening the partnership between U.S. and Canadian defense forces can be accomplished through exercises and operational planning to gain a better understanding of how each nation responds to a situation in times of crisis.

œWe had a chance to participate in Admiral Haneys [commanders update brief] and to see where he and his commanders are going, a very open approach on his part, which ensures that we have that common understanding of whats coming our way, and that we can find ways in which we can better participate together, he said.  

USSTRATCOM regularly conducts training and real-world activities with Canadian military forces, academic institutions and government agenciesthrough the on-site efforts of the Canadian Liaison Officer at USSTRATCOM, Col. Kevin Bryski. Examples of the recent collaboration include:

- In March 2016, Mr. Jamshed Merchant, Consul General for Canada in the upper Midwest, attended mission briefings and held discussions with subject matter experts at USSTRATCOM headquarters as part of a larger trip to Nebraska that also included a visit to the Nebraska State Capitol - where the legislature passed a resolution and the governor issued a proclamation in honor of œCanada Day at the Capitol.

- During USSTRATCOMs Global Thunder 16 command and control exercise in November 2015, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Brig. Gen. Michel Lalumieres, Director General Space, contributions to the Joint Space Operations Center at USSTRATCOMs Joint Functional Component Command for Space Headquarters, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, were highlighted to demonstrate how allied participation in exercises strengthens relationships between international partners and provides additional levels of resiliency in our combined forces.

- In October 2015, Haney attended the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) initiative meeting, which was held to discuss space-sharing activities between New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. Canadian Army Lt. Gen. Guy Thibault, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff; and Ms. Isabelle Desmartis, Director General, Policy Planning also attended the meeting. The CSpO initiative gave participating nations an understanding of existing and future space environments, an awareness of space capabilities to support global operations and military-to-military relationships, and a forum to address challenges and ensure the peaceful use of space.

- Also in October 2015, USSTRATCOM B-52 Stratofortress bombers based at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, and Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, conducted training in and around Goose Bay, Canada, with Royal Canadian Air Force units. The mission allowed bomber crews to gain experience in executing flexible long-range global strike capabilities while working alongside Canadian and North American Aerospace Defense forces.

Lamarre praised Bryskis ability to become œfully accepted and integrated into USSTRATCOM operations. Bryski has been successful in his efforts to organize national and international visits and advocate for appropriate levels of senior leader participation in USSTRATCOM operations and exercises.

œFor us, that relationship has been critical, Lamarre said. œ[For example] when were developing new policy for the defence of Canada, it gives us an understanding of how its working in the United States. Col. Bryski does a great job of getting that for us and making sure we understand what the intents are, and at the same time communicating things for us as required.

After his first visit to USSTRATCOM headquarters, Lamarre said the command left a œgreat impression on him.

œIt was not only a good reception on the relationship building side of things, he said. œBut it was very useful to understand just how deep and complex the mission is for USSTRACOM. Its always good to go to a place and ˜rub antlers with the guys youre going to be working with to get a good understanding of what you are going to be dealing with. You couldnt ask for a better visit and I look forward to the next one.

One of nine DoD unified combatant commands, USSTRATCOM has global strategic missions assigned through the Unified Command Plan, which include strategic deterrence; space operations; cyberspace operations; joint electronic warfare; global strike; missile defense; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; combating weapons of mass destruction; and analysis and targeting.

For more information, contact the USSTRATCOM Public Affairs Office at 402-294-4130 or usstratcompa@mail.mil.