Eva Martinez
Major (Ret'd) · Honoured guest and distinguished speaker
A lifelong passion for aerospace and aviation
Eva Martinez joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1989. She graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1993 and the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering in 1994, holding a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Engineering Management with a specialty in Aerospace.
From 1994 to 2002 Eva served as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Officer (AERE), retiring from the military in 2002 as a Major. Since then she has been an ambassador for the aerospace and defence sector, proudly connecting people and opportunities.
Military service
Eva's postings in the Royal Canadian Air Force included:
Canada's first female UN Military Observer
Born in Barcelona, Spain, Eva is fluent in English, French and Spanish. Throughout her military career she took part in committees for the militaries of the Americas (North, Central and South America), and helped the Chilean Air Force and the Guatemalan Army integrate women into their militaries.
Most notably, Eva took part in the United Nations Mission to Guatemala (MINUGUA) as Canada's first female United Nations Military Observer (UNMO), part of an international contingent overseeing a ceasefire after the end of a 36-year civil war.
Aerospace and defence career
Eva has a proven record directing a wide range of activities, including sales and business development, customer service, aircraft maintenance, operations, manufacturing, program management and contracts management. She focuses on strategic alignment, business process mapping, performance metrics and risk management to drive operational excellence, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement, and is consistently recognized for her leadership, team building and employee development.
She is currently the Senior Director, In-Service Support Business Development for Bluedrop Training & Simulation Inc.
Leadership and service
Today
- Vice President on the Board of Directors of Women in Aerospace Canada, where she started a branch in the Atlantic region to expand women's opportunities for leadership and career development
- Advisory Board, Best Defence Conference
- National Advisory Board, Blue Mentorship and Leadership Pathways, a project to grow Canada's ocean-based industries by connecting company founders with diverse ideas and talents
In the past
- Board of the Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Associations (ACADA), chairing the Innovation Committee
- Defence Industry Advisory Group (DIAG)
- Business Development Committee, Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI)
- Board of Directors, Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum (ACAM)
Mentoring the next generation
Eva provides leadership at every opportunity, mentoring youth through Techsploration, Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology (WinSETT), Women as Career Coaches (WACC) and Career Coaches Unlimited. She has also been an industry mentor for the St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School all-girls FIRST Robotics Team.
True to her roots as a former air cadet, Eva has been actively involved in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, serving on the Board of Governors of the National Air Cadet League as chairperson for League Industry Partnerships, and previously on the Board of Governors of the Ontario Provincial League. She has also been a special advisor to the Spanish Speaking Education Network (SSEN), helping represent the educational needs of the Hispanic community and promote the integration of Spanish speakers in Canadian society.