Dr. L. J. (John) Leggat
Associate Consultant
jleggat (at) cfncon.com
Dr. John Leggat is an Associate Consultant with CFN Consultants. Prior to joining CFN in September 2005, he was the Assistant Deputy Minister (Science & Technology) of the Department of National Defence and Chief Executive Officer of Defence R&D Canada (DRDC). In this capacity, he led Defence R&D Canada, which consists of a national network of six Defence Research Centres with an annual budget of $200 million and a staff of 1,400 people in programs addressing a broad range of defence technologies. The Defence R&D Canada provides national leadership in defence science, and furnishes scientific advice and products to the Canadian Forces and the Department of National Defence. The defence S&T network extends beyond the Defence Research Centres to encompass partnerships with Canadian industry, universities, and allied defence S&T organizations.
A native of Montreal, Dr. Leggat received his education at the Royal Military College of Canada (BEng 1971) and the University of British Columbia (MASc 1973 and Ph.D. 1976) in the field of aeroacoustics. He is a graduate of the National Defence College.
During his career, Dr. Leggat has served in a number of appointments in Defence R&D. As Director General of the Defence Research Establishment Ottawa from 1994-1997, he directed a program that addressed radar systems, electronic warfare, communications and space systems. From 1990 to 1994 he was responsible for the technology development program for the Department as the Director General R&D Operations at the National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. Prior to this appointment, he spent 14 years at the Defence Research Establishment Atlantic where he carried out and led research in the area of ship and submarine technology pertaining to noise reduction, hydromechanics, ship structures and materials.
In his capacity as Assistant Deputy Minister (Science & Technology), Dr. Leggat was the principal Canadian representative to the NATO Research and Technology Board and the Technology Cooperation Program (TTCP). He provided departmental input to national issues in science and technology by sitting on a number of interdepartmental committees of assistant deputy ministers.
Dr. Leggat has been a member of the advisory boards and boards of directors of several organizations including the National Optics Institute, the Communications Research Centre, National Research Council Institute for Aerospace Research and Inno-centre Ottawa. He was the President of the Royal Military Colleges Club of Canada from 1999 to 2000.
He spent 33 years in the Reserve component of the Canadian Forces, retiring in 2001 in the rank of Colonel.
From 1980 to 1990, he was an adjunct professor in the engineering physics and mechanical engineering departments at the Dalhousie University.
His scientific contributions were recognized by the Canadian Acoustical Association in 1981 with the award of the Directors' Award, and by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1984 with the Lewis F. Moody Award. In 2000 he was awarded the Robert W. Angus Medal by the Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineering for outstanding contributions to the management and practice of mechanical engineering. He was awarded the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service, Leadership Award in 2001. He is an honorary member of the Engineering Institute of Canada and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.
Dr. Leggat, his wife Denise and their two children live in Ottawa.