3 June 2009
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today the appointment of Richard Fadden, currently Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, as Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). This appointment will come into effect on June 27, 2009.
“Richard Fadden brings to this position a unique combination of legal expertise and extensive experience in the security and intelligence field”, said the Prime Minister. “His strong leadership qualities and sound judgment make him ideally suited to lead the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, one of Canada’s most important institutions.”
Mr. Fadden joined the public service in 1977 and has held positions of increasing responsibility with a number of departments, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Office of the Auditor General and the Privy Council Office. Most notably, from 2000 to 2002, he was Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Counsel and, beginning in February 2001, he assumed the additional duties of Security and Intelligence Coordinator. Mr. Fadden was President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and became Deputy Minister of Natural Resources in 2005, before being appointed to his current position. Mr. Fadden holds a Bachelor of Political Science from McGill University, a Bachelor of Law from the Université de Montréal and a Graduate Bachelor of Law from the University of Ottawa.
CSIS plays a leading role in protecting the national security interests of Canada by investigating and reporting on threats to the security of Canada. Guided by the rule of law and the protection of human rights, CSIS works within Canada’s integrated national security framework to provide advice to the Government of Canada on these threats.
The Prime Minister took the opportunity to thank Mr. Jim Judd, who is retiring after a very distinguished career in the Public Service, for his sound judgement and the outstanding contributions he has made in some of the most challenging leadership roles in the federal government for over 36 years. The Prime Minister wished Mr. Judd all the very best in his future endeavours.