Security Centre of Excellence/about

About CfD

In June 2012, under the authorization of the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister (NSA), the Executive Director of Security at Privy Council Office (PCO) formed the Departmental Security Officer (DSO) Centre for Development (CfD) and its mandate. The Centre is funded by the DSO community through contributions by departments and agencies.

The Community We Serve

Departmental Security Officers are the security leaders in departments across government. Appointed by deputy heads, they are the individuals who develop and manage the departmental security program and they are the designated fast-acting decision makers in a security situation. While it might be easy for security practitioners to work in silos, within their own departments, the CfD helps to keep the security mandate functioning horizontally. We act as the conduit to mobilize members of the security community, connecting them and keeping them confident in their role, informed of potential threats, vulnerabilities and risks, and ready to respond and recover with sound security control strategies.

The CfD Team

It takes an entire team of dedicated professionals to administer the expert service, advice and support provided by the Centre. The CfD team is diverse in expertise and background. In our office, you will find former senior security experts, former Departmental Security Officers, young professionals and team leaders with extensive experience with the machinery of government.

Nicole Legault
Jean-François Hamelin
Diana Brown
Daniel Giasson
He Jung Kim
Rebecca Hollander

Board of Management

From left to right:

Nathalie Delisle, Director, Security and Emergency Management & Departmental Security Officer, Corporate Management Sector, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Sandra L. Entwistle, Departmental Security Officer, Corporate Services Branch, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada

Guy Pilon, Chief Security Officer, Corporate Security, Royal Canadian Mint
Sara Thibodeau, Manager and Departmental Security Officer, Security Services, Canadian Human Rights Commission

Paul Bélair, Director, Security and Facilities, Canadian Space Agency

James Morrison, Director General, Internal Integrity and Security and Departmental Security Officer, Service Canada

Nicole Legault, Director, Departmental Security Officer Centre for Development, Privy Council Office

Established in 2016, The Centre's BoM's roles and responsibilities include...

Board of Directors

From left to right: Anne-Marie Pelletier, Executive Director and Chief Security Officer, Security Operations, Privy Council Office Bobby Matheson, Director General, Programs, Emergency Management and Programs Branch, Public Safety Canada Rita Whittle, Director General, Government of Canada Security Policy, Chief Information Officer Branch, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat