Former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot Stephen Fuhr leads Canada’s defence procurement as secretary of state, steering the newly created Defence Investment Agency. Fuhr, who previously faced criticism from military peers for opposing the purchase of American F-35 fighter jets, now oversees tens of billions of dollars in military acquisitions under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government.
The Rise of Stephen Fuhr at Defence Procurement
Stephen Fuhr serves as Canada’s secretary of state for defence procurement, according to reporting by CBC News. In this capacity, the 57-year-old leads the Defence Investment Agency, an organization established by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to accelerate the procurement of tens of billions of dollars in military hardware. Fuhr retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2009 with the rank of major after a career flying CF-18 aircraft, earning the call sign “Picasso” from fellow pilots for his abstract attack maps, according to former military officials cited by CBC News.
Past Opposition to F-35s and Strained Military Relations
Fuhr’s current government role marks a dramatic turnaround from his post-retirement advocacy. After leaving the military in 2009, Fuhr drew sharp criticism from members of the military community by vigorously opposing Canada’s purchase of American F-35 fighter jets. Multiple sources told CBC News that professional relations remain strained between Fuhr and elements of the Royal Canadian Air Force over disagreements regarding fighter jets, radar planes, and helicopter replacements. Several sources noted that Fuhr is viewed as an outsider by prominent members of the fighter pilot community.
In an interview with CBC News, Fuhr defended his history of challenging conventional defense orthodoxy. “I’m not afraid to stand out on the hill by myself,” Fuhr said. “It’s just a principled place to be. And sometimes it’s lonely, but that’s just the way it is.”
Expanded Powers Under Bill C-31
Under proposed legislation in Bill C-31, Fuhr is positioned to inherit sweeping authorities as the head of the Defence Investment Agency, including the power to award sole-sourced contracts to protect Canada’s economic security. Justin Massie, a defence expert at Université du Québec à Montréal, told CBC News that the legislation would establish a procurement “super minister.” According to Massie, Fuhr would hold broader powers than the ministers of industry or national defence by consolidating authorities historically split across multiple departments.
Fuhr stated that his overarching goal is to transform Canada’s military procurement system by boosting domestic manufacturing and building partnerships with international allies. “We are going to become less reliant and more resilient,” Fuhr told CBC News. “The good news is we have friends in every time zone. And everybody wants to work with Canada.”
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