CSE growth continues

Growth continues apace at CSE. The latest staff figures published by the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency indicate that CSE now has 1,444 staff members. The SIGINT agency is currently undergoing the largest expansion in its history, with the target staffing figure of 1,650 "full-time equivalents" scheduled to be achieved in 2007. (More about the expansion here.)

Adams's bio

The official biography of new CSE Chief John L. Adams has disappeared from the government of Canada website, so for the sake of posterity I will post the relevant bits here:

Office of the Prime Minister / Cabinet du Premier ministre

Prime Minister announces changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service

May 18, 2005
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Paul Martin was pleased to announce today the following changes in the senior ranks of the Public Service: ...

John L. Adams, currently Associate Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, becomes Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence, where his role will be to serve as Chief of the Communications Security Establishment, effective July 1, 2005. He will succeed Keith Coulter who will retire as Chief of the Communications Security Establishment at the end of June.

...

JOHN L. ADAMS

Date of Birth: May 1942

Education: Masters, Philosophy, University of Oxford
Bachelor, Chemical Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada

Professional Experience

December 2003 to Present
Associate Deputy Minister, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard

1998 - 2003
Assistant Deputy Minister, Marine Services and Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

1993 - 1998
Assistant Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Environment, National Defence

1992 - 1992
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Materiel, Canadian Armed Forces

1990 - 1992
Chief, Construction Properties, National Defence Headquarters, Infrastructure and Environment, Canadian Armed Forces

1989 - 1990
Commander, Canadian Forces Base, Petawawa, and the Special Service Force, Canadian Armed Forces

1987 - 1989
Chief of Staff/Operations Officer, Defence and Foreign Affairs Secretariat, Privy Council Office

1985 - 1987
Deputy Commander, Canadian Forces Base, Petawawa, and the Special Service Force, Canadian Armed Forces

1978 - 1985
Senior Staff Officer, Construction Engineering Requirements, Canadian Forces Training Systems then Director, Construction Engineering Requirements, National Defence Headquarters, Canadian Armed Forces

1974 - 1978
Commanding Officer, Combat Engineer Regiment, then Administrative Officer, Logistics, Technical Services and Personnel Canadian Forces, Canadian Armed Forces

1967 - 1974
Various appointments from Lieutenant to Major, Canadian Armed Forces

[Update 26 July 2005:
The amusing typo in the original version of the press release (declaring that Adams's Masters degree was in "Phil Barnesosophy") has finally been corrected, and the corrected version is now available on the Prime Minister's website. Looks like the intel boys (and girls) are staying on top of the details after all. Maybe they read my blog!]

Adams becomes new Chief

As of today, 1 July 2005, John L. Adams has become Chief of the CSE.

Previously Commissioner of the Coast Guard and originally an officer in the Canadian Forces, Adams is the seventh Chief in CSE/CBNRC's 59-year history. He takes charge as the agency is in the midst of its largest expansion ever and while it is still undergoing a major reorientation from Cold War military targets to "Global War on Terror" targets. Should make for an interesting tenure.

Adams replaced Keith Coulter, who had been Chief since 2001.