Message from the Deputy Minister regarding the Digital Transformation Office

December 6, 2022 - Defence Stories

Team,

The pace of digital innovation is picking up speed dramatically across the globe, not just by our allies, but by our adversaries as well. We must do more than keep up. We must create and maintain an operational advantage to ensure that we are protecting Canadians, and living up to our international obligations in support of the rules-based international order.

Effective digitalization—actively transforming how we gather, manage, protect, understand, and automate the use of information in the digital space—is increasingly critical. The changes I am announcing today will be key to our success to digitize our Defence Team in a strategic, effective, and supportable way.

Introducing the Digital Transformation Office

Effective 6 December, we will be merging the entire L1 of ADM (Data, Innovation, Analytics) (DIA) and the Directorate of Knowledge and Information Management (DKIM)—currently under ADM (IM)—to stand up the Digital Transformation Office. You can view the changes to the structure through our organizational chart. Effective 6 December, the name of the L1 ADM (IM) will be changed to Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Information Officer. The L1 itself will be called the Chief Information Office.

The previous mandate of ADM (DIA) will be expanded under the DTO to include new digital-specific responsibilities. These include in areas of digital transformation and change management, departmental project modernization, Information Management, and data and analytics enablement in support of initiatives like machine learning and Artificial Intelligence.

The DTO will also serve as a Centre of Expertise, which will be available to support all L1s as they develop and execute their digital transformations. This will ensure we are not transforming in stovepipes and enable a consistent, interoperable approach across the whole Defence Team.

What Does This Mean for You? 

Those of you not directly part of ADM (DIA) and ADM (IM) may be wondering what this change means for you. For the present time, the most noticeable changes will take place within the L1s directly implicated in the DTO. Notably, the teams in question are already effectively collaborating on a number of key files and we have identified further areas such as policy, literacy, and oversight that have a natural fit between the core functions of the two groups. I want to confirm that all staff involved in this change have been informed and provided with change management support.

Ultimately, our entire Defence Team will need to be active participants in our collective Digital Transformation. Many of our L1s are already working diligently in the right direction. Greater depth and collaboration is required, and the DTO will help guide that.

Once we have appointed our Assistant Deputy Minister to lead the DTO, they will engage with L1 partners and stakeholders from the Government of Canada and the private sector to create the organization’s mandate, Accountabilities, Responsibilities, and Authorities.

Transformation Involves Everyone

We all have a stake in the success of Defence Team digitalization, and while DTO will take a leading role, I’d ask that all of us be prepared to be flexible, innovative, and open to the benefits that digital transformation will bring us over the long term. There’s a lot of work and learning ahead for all of us and, done in the right spirit and diligence, we will be well positioned to support the defence and security of Canada as a modern, adaptable Defence Team.

Bill Matthews 

Deputy Minister of National Defence