Chief of Defence Intelligence (Canada)

The Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) in Canada is a senior officer in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) who leads the Defence Intelligence Enterprise (DIE). The DIE encompasses all intelligence-related functions within the Department of National Defence (DND) and the CAF.

The CDI is responsible for providing strategic and operational intelligence assessments, analysis, and advice to the Minister of National Defence, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), and other senior leaders in the DND and CAF. This includes supporting military operations, defence policy development, and national security decision-making.

Key responsibilities of the CDI and the DIE include:

• Intelligence Collection: Overseeing the collection of intelligence from various sources, including open source intelligence (OSINT), human intelligence (HUMINT), signals intelligence (SIGINT), and imagery intelligence (IMINT).
• Intelligence Analysis: Analyzing collected intelligence to identify trends, patterns, and threats that could affect Canada's security interests.
• Intelligence Dissemination: Disseminating intelligence products to relevant stakeholders within the DND, CAF, and other government agencies.
• Counter-Intelligence: Protecting the DND and CAF from espionage, sabotage, and other threats to security.
• Intelligence Training: Providing training and education to intelligence personnel within the CAF.
• International Cooperation: Collaborating with intelligence agencies in allied countries to share information and coordinate intelligence activities.

The CDI reports directly to the CDS and plays a critical role in ensuring that the CAF has the intelligence it needs to effectively carry out its missions. The position is typically held by a general or flag officer. The DIE is a complex and multifaceted organization that plays a vital role in Canada's national security.