by Vanessa Chiasson
JOEL HOUDE KNOWS a thing or two about honing a career in the defence industry and, in his case, the word “hone” has a double meaning. When Houde has some free time from his new role as the Ottawa-based Vice President and General Manager of General Dynamics Mission Systems–International (GDMS-I), he’s an avid woodworker. As he says: “I like to design and build my own furniture and the pandemic really offered me a great excuse to expand my home workshop. Recently I have worked on building antique reproductions with a focus on using hand tools. I find the feeling of creating shavings versus sawdust much more satisfying.”
This passion for hands-on work and fine craftsmanship has been evident throughout Houde’s career.
A mechanical engineer by training, Houde’s degree was part of a co-op program, which he describes as being “an invaluable part of the education process, especially in engineering”. That experience led him to be part of the team that built and launched Radarsat-I. Delivering a project to the Canadian Space Agency - as Houde describes it, was a “dream job, allowing for exposure to the discipline required to execute large systems integration programs and got me interested in project management.” It was also the first of many hands-on, innovative projects he’d tackle. By 2002, he was living in Montreal and running the program-planning department working on a variety of space programs. As he says: “This was a pivotal move for me as it allowed me to gain broader business experience, with exposure to senior leaders managing complex space programs.”
In his early career, Houde describes himself as being only “peripherally aware” of the military. He didn’t join the defence industry until he faced a transition point in his career, returning to Ottawa after leaving his position in Montreal with the space industry. A co-worker suggested he apply for a position at GDMS-I to run their project management office and the rest is history.
Houde has since held a variety of project management roles at GDMS-I, including the Hydra underwater warfare suite, the Maritime Helicopter Program and the Armored Brigade Communication Information System. Houde characterizes his career path as giving him the foundation that he leans on today. As Vice President and General Manager of GDMS-I, Houde leads a team of professionals that provide technology and mission system capabilities to armed forces all over the world. In his own words: “We essentially drive capability into military platforms and enable both the soldiers and the systems spanning Air, Sea, Land, Space and Cyber domains. Not only do we design, develop and manufacture these capabilities, but we also support those delivered systems going as far as deploying training and service personnel alongside soldiers in the field.” If that sounds daunting, it’s because it is! Houde is quick to point out that his work is really a “team sport”.
One of those key “team sport” moments came while Houde was working on the Maritime Helicopter Program. As he says of the experience leading the program: “I learned what it means to do hard things.” There were over 400 people working to meet stringent requirements to deliver on a large scale, developmental, systems integration program and, inevitably, they ran into challenges and delays. This doesn’t exactly sound like the makings of a standout career moment but, as Houde points out: “The learning experience you get by overcoming those challenges collaboratively with your team and customer is invaluable. I don’t know that you could ever take on a job like I have today without having been through something like that.”
The upcoming year promises to keep Houde and his team on their toes. He reports that, unbeknownst to most Canadians, his company provides world-class Vetronics products for most US military vehicles. Come 2023, the plan is to bring next-generation ultra hi-def smart displays, advanced scenario-based fire control systems, and ultra-low-latency video management solutions to market. They also continue to integrate next-generation technologies and capabilities in areas such as ISR, cloud computing, and secure communications to provide the digital backbone for the Canadian Army. As he reflects on the challenges and rewards of working in the defence industry, Houde says: “I have always had a deep respect for those who choose to put their lives on the line to keep the rest of us safe and to protect our way of life. It is a life of service. I’m immensely proud to be able to do our part to enable them in their work and to keep them safe. No one wants conflict in the world, but it is immensely important to have a capable military for when it is needed and as a deterrent, which enables peace and order.”
Joel Houde, Vice President and General Manager, GDMS-I participates in Operation Collaborative Spirit – experiencing a day in the life of a soldier.
When asked if he had any advice to offer young executives interested in entering the defence industry, Houde recommends they “Make sure (their) toolbox is as full as it can be.” By that he means to pursue hard things, diverse things, to stay on a steep learning curve, adding that “The more experience you have, the more prepared you will be to deal with the challenges that inevitably come in leadership roles”. He also offers these words of encouragement: “On some days the challenges we face seem insurmountable but what I have learned over the years is that we almost always find a way. We might not like the way we find but we always find a way to get through the barriers. I believe that you need to enter these things with the mindset that there will always be a way, you just need to look for it. To be successful in these roles you need to have grit, resiliency and tenacity.”
As someone who enjoys hands-on work in both his professional and personal life, it’s not surprising that Houde says that he loves developing state-of-the-art solutions for complex problems and that it is “neat, challenging, and meaningful work”. He knows that when he digs into his latest project that it all makes a difference to the women and men who serve – and to those who are working beside him. As he says: “I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that I am helping to develop the next generation of leaders even as I continue to learn and grow in this role. We can’t underestimate the impact we have on those that work for us. The decisions we make, the way we speak, and the interactions we have with those around us have an impact on how they feel about their work life, their contribution and how they feel about themselves when they go home at the end of the day. I try and keep in mind how I show up and contribute to the environment so that everyone gets the opportunity to do their best at work.”
Joel believes that community involvement is at the core of our mission – pictured here in GD’s sponsorship of Canada Army Run.
