OTTAWA — Telesat has appointed Richard Fadden, a former national security advisor and deputy minister of defence, to its board of directors.
Fadden was the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada from January 19, 2015 to March 31, 2016. Previously, he served as the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service from 2009 until 2013, after which he was appointed the Deputy Minister of National Defence in May 2013. Fadden also served as the Deputy Minister for Citizenship and Immigration Canada from 2006 to 2009, and the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada from 2005 to 2006.
He has also been president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (from 2002 to 2005), and Deputy Clerk and Counsel in the Privy Council Office (from 2000 to 2002), during which time he took on the additional duties of Security and Intelligence Coordinator in February 2001.
His other federal government appointments have included positions in the Department of External Affairs, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, Natural Resources Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat.
“We are delighted that Richard Fadden will be joining the Telesat Board,” said Dr. Mark Rachesky, chair of Telesat’s board of directors, in a news release announcing Fadden’s appointment. “Richard’s deep understanding of security matters and government operations will be invaluable in ensuring that Telesat can continue to provide safe, secure, reliable and innovative communication solutions to our government and private sector customers.”
Fadden holds a Graduate Diploma in Law from the University of Ottawa, a Bachelor of Laws from the Université de Montréal, and a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University where he studied Political Science.
“Telesat has a long and proud history of innovation and operational excellence and has been providing important communications services in Canada and throughout the rest of the world for decades,” Fadden said in the news release. “I am honoured to join the Board of Directors and look forward to working with the management team and the other members of the Board to promote its continued growth and success.”
