Norman Leach

Norman Leach is a Canadian military historian, writer, public speaker, and defence-industry leader whose work spans Canadian military history, strategic commentary, and international business. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Western Canada Defence Industries Association and is a regular contributor to the Canadian Defence Review and other military and historical journals.

A prolific author on Canadian and wider military themes, Norman has written widely on war, peacekeeping, leadership, and the evolution of Canada’s armed forces. His published works include:

• Great Military Leaders: Charismatic Canadian Commanders (2004)
• Canadian Peacekeepers: Ten Stories of Valour in War-Torn Countries (2005)
• Passchendaele: Canada’s Triumph and Tragedy on the Fields of Flanders (2008)
• Broken Arrow: America’s First Lost Nuclear Weapon (2008)
• Canadian Battles: Canada’s Role in Major World Conflicts (2009)
• Vigil: Canada’s Sacrifice in Afghanistan (2010, as editor)
• Cavalry of the Air: An Illustrated Introduction to the Aircraft and Aces of the First World War (2014)
• Sam Steele: An Officer and a Gentleman (2015)

Beyond his work as a historian and author, Norman has extensive experience in international business, trade, and public policy. Over the course of his career, he has helped establish the Alberta Trade Office in Mexico City, advised provincial cabinet ministers, led major Canadian chambers of commerce, and taught entrepreneurship, marketing, and international trade at institutions including Mount Royal University, SAIT, the University of Manitoba, and the University of Alberta.

Norman holds a degree in Political Science and History from the University of Manitoba. He has also been involved in film and documentary production, serving as historian on the feature film Passchendaele (2008) and contributing to documentaries including The Road to Passchendaele (2008), Arctic Manhunt: Hunt for the Mad Trapper (2009), and Hitler’s Stealth Fighter (2009). He has also participated in public defence discussions through the Edmonton United Services Institute.