Dr. Andrea Charron holds a PhD from the Royal Military College of Canada (Department of War Studies). She obtained a Masters in International Relations from Webster University, Leiden, The Netherlands, a Master's of Public Administration from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Queen's University. Dr. Charron worked for various federal departments including the Privy Council Office in the Security and Intelligence Secretariat. She completed her post doctorate at Carleton's Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and is now Professor and Director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies (CDSS) at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Charron has written extensively on the Arctic, NORAD, Canadian Defence Policy and the Security Council. She is a member of the Commander of the RCAF’s Advisory Board and is asked regularly to provide guest lectures at Canadian Forces College, NATO Staff College and to provide testimony to Senate and House of Commons' committees.