The CMEA congratulates Alex Landry on his selection as a Fellow in the CDA Institute’s 2026–27 Fellowship Programme.
The Fellowship brings together distinguished leaders, accomplished professionals, and emerging talent from Canada and abroad who contribute to the study and discussion of Canadian defence and security.
As a member of the 2026–27 cohort, Alex will contribute his knowledge and experience to the CDA Institute’s research, programming, events, and public discussions, helping to inform policymakers, practitioners, and the broader defence and security community.
The CMEA is pleased to see Alex recognized through this prestigious appointment and congratulates him on his selection.
After receiving the news, Alex agreed to be interviewed for our website and newsletter, answering a series of questions about the Fellowship and what his appointment means for the CMEA.
CMEA: What is a Fellow?
Alex: In this case, I am a Fellow with the Conference of Defence Associations Institute (CDAI). It is not a full-time position, but rather an affiliation with the Institute as someone contributing to Canadian defence and security thinking. Fellows support that work through research, writing, events, panels, and engagement across the defence and security community.
My focus will largely be Canada’s relationship with NATO, the Arctic, defence innovation, and energy security.
CMEA: What does it mean for the CMEA and CME family?
Alex: For me, one of the most useful aspects is another avenue to bring perspectives from the Canadian Military Engineer community into broader national defence discussions. Engineers touch an enormous amount of the defence agenda — infrastructure, readiness, mobility, resilience, sustainment, emerging technology, the Arctic, and support to operations, among other things.
I certainly do not speak on behalf of the CMEA through the Fellowship, but I hope the networks reinforce one another. If it creates opportunities to highlight the expertise within the CME family, connect people, or encourage other engineers to contribute to the national defence conversation, all the better. Moreover, as the CMEA is part of the CDA, I think this will provide excellent linkages and opportunities for alignment moving forward.
CMEA: What did I do to be selected?
Alex: I would probably frame this less as recognition for one particular accomplishment and more as the result of a body of work over a number of years. I was fortunate to be invited to join based on a combination of my military experience, graduate research, writing and public engagement on defence issues, and continued involvement in the defence and security community.
That includes my time with the Engineers in Canada and overseas, work at NATO LANDCOM, research on Canada-NATO relations, involvement with defence innovation initiatives such as NATO DIANA, and writing on Canadian defence and foreign policy. I have also tried to remain active through organizations such as the CMEA, RMCAA, RCMI and others.
Perhaps the piece I would emphasize most, given the theme you are after, is that none of these things really happened in isolation. One opportunity tends to lead to another when you stay involved, volunteer, write, ask questions, and keep showing up. I have benefited enormously from people across the CME family who opened doors, offered advice, or encouraged me along the way. If this encourages another Engineer to put their hand up for something they might otherwise have passed on, that would be a pretty good outcome.
See more at: Fellows