Lieutenant Colonel Nakul Nayyar joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 2004 as a Communications and Electronics Engineer. He most recently served as the Canadian Communications & Electronics Defense Attaché in Washington, D.C. (2020–2024). In this role, he was responsible to provide expertise, assistance and advice in the information and Cyber Defense domains affecting the US-Canada bilateral defence sector partnership. Concurrently, he was the Permanent Secretary of the Combined Communications Electronics Board (2021–2024), leading modernization efforts for Five Eyes (FVEY) digital interoperability between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the USA. LCol Nayyar’s earlier roles include overseeing IT infrastructure projects for the Royal Canadian Air Force, focusing on acquiring advanced systems to maintain a combat-capable air force. He was also responsible for identifying and analysing priority capability development areas and driving digital transformation within the force. His command appointments include his role as Officer Commanding of the Canadian Forces Crypto Maintenance Unit (2016-2018) that provides cryptographic services (procurement, installations, service support) to the Canadian armed forces in Canada and on operations abroad.

Academically, LCol Nayyar holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Toronto and two master’s degrees in Business Administration and Defense Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada. He currently serves as a Cyber SME at JAPCC, leveraging his extensive experience to enhance NATO’s cyber capabilities.