Peter Hammerschmidt - Biography

Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment), Department of National Defence

Peter Hammerschmidt was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment) in August 2024.

Prior to assuming his current duties, he was Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy). During this time, he was instrumental in advancing several National Defence and government priorities in the context of an increasingly strained and deteriorating international security environment. Mr. Hammerschmidt led the development and launch of Canada’s defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, which secured additional funding and new capabilities for DND/CAF and laid out a new policy vision for the Defence Team. Furthermore, he led the establishment and deepening of key bilateral Defence relationships, including in the Indo-Pacific. He ensured that Defence continued to maintain productive and positive relationships with key domestic and international policy stakeholders within government and academia.

Previously, Mr. Hammerschmidt was Director General Policy Coordination at National Defence, Director General National Cyber Security at Public Safety and Executive Assistant to the Clerk of the Privy Council. He also held the following positions within the Government of Canada: Senior Director Planning and Information Management at the Treasury Board Secretariat, Director Cabinet Liaison at National Defence and First Secretary for Financial and Military Affairs at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York.

He began his career in the Public Service with the Policy Officer Recruitment Program and held various positions at National Defence from 1998 to 2001.

Mr. Hammerschmidt holds a Master’s degree from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and a Bachelor’s degree from Queen’s University.