Mr. Jay H. Janzen is a strategic communications professional with over two decades of multinational and military experience. Prior to joining SHAPE as the Director of the Communications Division, Mr. Janzen was a Brigadier-General in the Canadian Armed Forces, where he led efforts to enhance strategic communication and military public affairs capabilities.

Mr. Janzen joined the Canadian Forces Reserves in 1989 and subsequently enrolled in the Regular Force in 1990. He graduated from Royal Roads Military College in 1994 with a BA in History and Political Science. Upon commissioning, he completed training as an Armoured Officer and served in two Canadian Armoured Regiments in a variety of leadership positions.

In 1999, Janzen voluntarily transferred to the Public Affairs Branch and graduated from the Defense Information School in Fort Meade, Md. Following his training, he was posted to Army Headquarters in Ottawa, where he worked in a variety of public affairs positions. In 2003-04 he completed a six-month tour in Afghanistan as the public affairs officer for the 3^rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment Battalion Group. From there he served as the Senior Public Affairs Officer for an Army Division, and then ran a military marketing and engagement office responsible for Western and Northern Canada. In 2008/2009, he deployed to Kandahar where he completed a ten-month tour as the Senior Public Affairs Advisor for Joint Task Force Afghanistan.

In May of 2009, Janzen was appointed Director of Army Public Affairs in Ottawa, where he was responsible for all Army public affairs and marketing activities across Canada. He graduated from the NATO Defence College in 2011, and in 2012 became the Chief of Media Operations at SHAPE. He was awarded the NATO Meritorious Service Medal for his role as a leading communications strategist and military spokesperson involved in communicating NATO's multifaceted response to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. He was also the communications advisor to the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR).

In 2015 he was promoted to Colonel and assumed the position of Director of Military Strategic Communications in Ottawa. In 2018, he completed the National Security Program, and was appointed as an Officer in the Canadian Order of Military Merit. He was promoted to Brigadier-General in 2018 and served as Director General Military Strategic Communication and Director General Public Affairs. He also completed the Senior Joint Information Operations Application Course at the U.S. Air University. Mr. Janzen speaks regularly on the topic of strategic communication to academics, think-tanks, staff colleges, and international security conferences.