Isabelle Desmartis, Assistant Deputy Minister (HR-Civ)

Ms. Isabelle Desmartis is the Assistant Deputy Minister (Human Resources – Civilian) at the Department of National Defence (DND). She serves as the Chief Human Resource Officer for Civilian Human Resources management, programs and services for a workforce of approximately 26,000 people. 

Over the course of her career, Ms. Desmartis has worked in many senior executive roles maintaining responsibility for policies and programs including but not limited to global defence and security, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and arms control.

Ms. Desmartis has also held the role of Assistant Deputy Minister (Defence Research and Development Canada), bringing leadership to national issues of defence security as well as overseeing the investment of science and technology for National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

In 2015, Ms. Desmartis led the development of Canada’s Defence Policy Strong, Secure, Engaged and contributed strategic policy advice to senior DND/CAF leadership on current and emerging global trends in the defence and security domains. Her key policy files included strategic defence, Arctic, cyber and space security, regional and functional strategic analysis on global trends, as well as arms control and non-proliferation.

As Director of Strategic Analysis at National Defence from 1998 to 2005, Ms. Desmartis worked in various policy functions including weapons of mass destruction and arms control. From 2006 to 2011, she occupied various positions in the areas of national and transportation security, including Director of Intelligence and Senior Director of Aviation Security Policy at Transport Canada. From 2011 to March 2015, Ms. Desmartis served as the Assistant Chief of Defence Intelligence supporting the Chief of Defence Intelligence for DND and the CAF in all leadership functions.