Colonel (retired) Walter Wood served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 36 years. As a career Signals officer, he fulfilled an extensive variety of roles developing, supporting, and managing defence and military communications and IT systems in Canada and abroad. Highlights include commanding the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics in Kingston, commanding 7 Communication Group in Ottawa, and serving on operational tours in Cyprus, Somalia, Bosnia, and Afghanistan.
Upon taking his release from the Forces in 2018, Walter joined Public Services and Procurement Canada as an IT executive, responsible for delivering government-wide enterprise application services programs. In 2021, he worked at an Australian-based IT start-up as a customer success executive. In 2022, he served for three months in the Ukrainian International Legion in combat against Russian Forces. Upon returning to Canada, he joined the Treasury Board Secretariat CIO organization to assist with policy development and coordination for government-wide enterprise services. Since 2023, he has been consulting on cybersecurity program development within the Department of National Defence.
Walter now volunteers as President of the AFCEA Ottawa Chapter, a non-profit organization dedicated to professional development and collaboration among IT and C5ISRT professionals in Canada’s Defence and Security Sector. He holds a B.Eng. (Electrical) from RMC, a B.A. from the University of Waterloo, an M.Eng. (Telecommunications Technology Management) from Carleton University, and is a graduate of the NATO Defense College Senior Course and the Canadian Forces College National Security Studies Program.