THE BEST DEFENCE: CAE’S MIKE GREENLEY NAMED DEFENCE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR By: Nancy Ceresia
When Canadian Defence Review named Mike Greenley it s 2016 Defence Executive of the Year, it was only the most recent achievement of a truly stellar career. CDR says Greenley “combines an Elon Musklike technological bent with a fierce entrepreneurial drive,” a unique set of qualities he’s honed through more than 20 years in the industry. Greenley’s introduction to what would end up being a life-long career was rather serendipitous. His studies at the University of Waterloo led him to an engagement at what was then the Defence & Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine (DCIEM) (which became Defence Research & Development Canada (DRDC)). Here began innocently enough the study of simulation training that became the launching pad for his lifelong journey of learning and discovery. In hindsight, when one traces the path of Mr. Greenley’s career, it isn’t surprising to see the continual success he has enjoyed as Vice President and General Manager of CAE Canada. All along the way, his career and the industry itself seemed to evolve symbiotically. It almost seems as though it couldn’t have turned out any other way for Greenley. From his early days as an entrepreneur, his success was driven by innovation and the ability to recognize opportunity, seize it and execute upon it like
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THE KANATA NETWORKER
no one else in the industry. In 1996 he founded Greenley & Associates, a firm that provided design support for defence systems where exceeding delivery expectations to clients was paramount, and led him to be recognized three years in a row starting in 2002 for his leadership in one of Canada’s fastest growing companies. This success did not go unnoticed. He sold Greenley & Associates in 2004 to CAE, where he came on as vice-president, and continued focusing on providing leading-edge training solutions for clients. Here he was instrumental in realizing the vision of “…providing the largest off-the-shelf software company for simulation software products (…) the Microsoft of modelling and simulation…” through the acquisition and integration of three other firms. Once again, his success would propel him to yet another career opportunity—one that he could not refuse. In 2008 he left CAE to become Vice President, then later, the VP International at General Dynamics. During this tenure, his expanded role led to the development of communications and mission systems solutions for clients across the globe. When CAE expanded its regional structure in 2013 in Ottawa, Greenley was the natural choice to step into his current leadership role as VP and General Manager of CAE Canada. Unlike CAE’s other region enterprises around the world, CAE Canada has a long and rich history of experience in defence, thanks to acquisitions and mergers. CAE Canada alone can state that it has “supported mission systems equipment for Canada’s F/A-18 aircraft for over 25 years, have been respon-
Mike Greenley
sible for electronic warfare suites for the army for over 30 years and are integrating the information environment for in-service support of the new Cyclone maritime helicopter,” as Greenley explained in his Canadian Defence Review profile. Using this exceptional heritage, he is leading CAE Canada to the next level of client service by providing comprehensive training solutions beyond simulation. “An exciting new project for us in the Ottawa region is our recent win of the simulation-based training system for the Canadian Coast Guard, where we will develop one of the most advanced helicopter simulators in the world and install it at the Transport Canada site here in Ottawa for Coast Guard training on both the Bell 412 and Bell 429 helicopters,” he explains. Throughout all of his accomplishments and changes in title under various corporate banners, Mike Greenley’s roots have been firmly planted in Ottawa. Of CAE’s office location in Kanata North, he says, “CAE has enjoyed a positive benefit from having one of our 12 sites across the country in Kanata, Ontario. We have solid engineering staff at this location, and are able to work collaboratively with business partners and subcontractors in the Kanata area.” It is certainly exciting to see what will come next in the continual evolution of Greenley’s career in defence and aerospace. With every new RFP and bid submission is another opportunity to surpass previous accomplishments, set new goals and soar to new heights.