eVeritas Book Club – The Cohort
Military dark humour is ever present and Chuck’s story and dialog-driven story arc carefully builds anxiety and tension chapter by chapter. The surprising application of hidden skills and the apparition of new acquaintances are slowly introduced to the small circle of the Cohort to become key players in a storyline than crosses cultures, boundaries and oceans, often blurring the lines of honour and honesty.
eVeritas Book Club: Fulfilling the Promise of Canada
The collection of twenty essays is broken into two sections. Part 1 contains ten essays about the Canadian military, and they cover all aspects from seapower to NORAD; from creating a defence intellectual base to a CAF General Staff, from the future of the Reserves to Canada’s need for hard power in a time of rupture. Most of the authors are ex-cadets who have held key positions both in uniform and afterwards. Part 2 shifts gears and moves to the socio-political domain and the ten essays are written by nationally recognized experts including RMC profs and a couple of ex-principals. These essays tackle Canadian national identity, our need for an effective foreign intelligence capability, to Canada’s universities to our policies on the Arctic.
The Man in the Arena: Merging tradition with responsibility, Lieutenant (Lt) Jaeyoung (Dave) Seo
Lt Seo enrolled in the CAF through the Regular Officer Training Plan at the Royal Military College of Canada, choosing to become an Engineer Officer. While his Korean heritage carries a deep‑rooted tradition of mandatory military service, as a Canadian Lt Seo was not obligated to serve. Instead, he made a conscious decision to join the CAF because he believed it was his responsibility to serve his country.
A Lifetime of Leadership: Paul Hook (RMC 2002) and the Enduring Strength of the RMC Connection
For Paul Hook, RMC Class of 2002, the connection to the Royal Military College of Canada began long before he marched through the Arch as a cadet. RMC was already part of his family story. His father, Brian Hook (RRMC/RMC 1968), and his uncle, Doug Smith (RMC 1968), had both attended the College, giving Paul…
From the Army to Parliament: Alex Ruff, MSC, CD, MP, RMC Class of 1997
After retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces, Alex chose to continue serving in a different way. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound, bringing with him years of military experience and a practical understanding of leadership, defence, and public service.
From Royal Roads to Reinvention: Chris Theal’s Unconventional Path
Chris graduated from Royal Roads Military College with a degree in Economics and began his career as an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy. That early experience gave him a strong foundation in responsibility, decision-making, and service. He later earned an MBA in Finance from the University of British Columbia, became a Chartered Financial Analyst, and completed the Directors Education Program, earning the ICD.D designation.
From RCAF Officer to AI Innovator Driving Global Change: Devashish Paul (CMR RMC 1988)
After leaving the military, Devashish moved into the tech world just as it was starting to accelerate. Over the next 20+ years, he built a career across Canada, Silicon Valley, Europe, and Asia, working in semiconductors, networking, and high-performance computing. His focus was always on solving big, practical challenges, helping build technologies that sit behind everyday systems, from global communications networks to advanced computing platforms.
Alumni Spotlight: Colonel (Ret’d) Nishika Jardine, RMC 1986 — A Career Built on Service
In November 2020, she was appointed Veterans Ombud, taking on a national role focused on fairness for Veterans and their families. The work of the Office of the Veterans Ombud is direct and important. It reviews complaints related to the Veterans Bill of Rights, looks at issues connected to programs and services administered by Veterans Affairs Canada, and identifies systemic problems that affect Veterans and their families.
Test Pilot. Combat Leader. Global Aviation Strategist. Billie Flynn, CMR RMC 1981
A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, Flynn went on to serve 23 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, retiring as a Lieutenant-Colonel and Combat Squadron Commander. During that time, he built a reputation as a highly capable fighter pilot and leader, entrusted with demanding operational responsibilities at home and abroad. He led 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron and commanded Canadian Task Force Aviano during Operation Allied Force, flying combat missions over Kosovo and the former Republic of Yugoslavia. The unit’s contributions were later recognized with Battle Honours awarded by Queen Elizabeth II, marking an important chapter in Canadian military aviation history.
