Mark J. Potvin

MP Digital Consulting Inc. · Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Mark J. Potvin

IT and cybersecurity leader with 14+ years across national defence, academia, and the private sector — now contracting on data science, optimization, and cyber/AI through MP Digital Consulting Inc.

Government of Canada Security Clearance — Level III (Top Secret)

Get in touchView CVLinkedIn ↗

about/

A quantitative consultant's practice

I am a data-driven IT and cybersecurity professional with over 14 years of information technology, security, and intelligence experience in senior leadership roles within national defence, academia, and the private sector. As a Signal Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces (2014–2025), I led cyber force development, secure C4ISR service management, and electronic warfare / signals intelligence operations, and conducted academic research at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC).

My foundation is grounded in analytical and proof-based mathematics: an Honours B.Math in Combinatorics & Optimization from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Applied Science in Computer Network Security from RMC. Through MP Digital Consulting Inc., I now apply that combination of optimization, deep learning, and security engineering to consulting engagements in data science, AI training, and cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity & Defence

Cybersecurity operations, governance, risk, and compliance expertise encompassing vulnerability management, incident response, platform protection, and policy development. Leveraged ISO 27001, NIST CSF 2.0, ITSG-33, and MITRE ATT&CK frameworks while leading CAF cyber training in threat hunting, alert triage, malware analysis, and digital forensics within VMware environments.

Machine Learning & AI

Published research applying deep learning techniques to anomaly detection in heavy-duty vehicle networks and designed quantitative forecasting models and Monte Carlo simulations for financial projections; integrating advanced analytics, automation, and AI-driven solutions.

Mathematical Optimization

Applied expertise in operations research, portfolio optimization, and data analytics to solve complex business and resource allocation challenges. Developed decision-support models, data visualization dashboards, and quantitative solutions using Python, and MATLAB to support strategic planning and operational performance.

IT Leadership & Service Management

Provided leadership in Agile service delivery and ITIL-based operations across Windows Server, Microsoft 365, and Azure environments. Led cross-functional teams in developing military cybersecurity capabilities and managed budgets exceeding $2M across training, technology, and procurement initiatives.

experience/

Professional experience

Eleven years as a Signal Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces — spanning cyber force development, secure service management, EW/SIGINT operations, and academic research — preceded by business analysis at OpenText, and now consulting through MP Consulting Inc.

2026 — Present

Principal Consultant · MP Digital Consulting Inc.

Kingston, ON

Founder of a consulting practice focused on data-driven optimization and cybersecurity/AI training services.

  • Deliver optimization consulting: problem formulation, model construction and deployment for scheduling and allocation problems.
  • Provide advanced-mathematics training data and evaluation for AI/LLM development platforms.
  • Advise on cybersecurity guidelines for artificial intelligence and governance, risk, and compliance.
  • Develop financial-projection and forecasting models for client decision support.
ConsultingOptimizationAI TrainingPython
2025 — 2025

Research Assistant (Major) — Signal Officer · Royal Military College of Canada · CAF

Kingston, ON

Directed quality-assurance (QA) evaluations supporting academic planning for undergraduate and graduate programs in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.

  • Applied data analytics to manage degree-level expectations and learning objectives.
  • Contributed to program learning outcomes, syllabi, and assessments, and presented strategic findings to key stakeholders.
  • Developed and implemented a modernized information management plan ensuring timely completion of QA initiatives.
  • Conducted research leveraging deep-learning models for anomaly detection in vehicle networks: threat modeling and digital infrastructure security.
ResearchQuality AssuranceAcademiaCompliance
2023 — 2024

Team Lead, Service Management (Major) — Signal Officer · Directorate Land Command Systems Program Management · CAF

Canada

IT project manager responsible for designing and building state-of-the-art servers to support ongoing operations.

  • Directed cross-functional teams of military personnel and civilian contractors to secure C4ISR capabilities across distributed environments.
  • Ensured protection of information assets through frequent upgrades and patching of deployed systems; oversaw IT unit system audits for compliance.
  • Built and scaled communication IT workflow processes across multi-unit stakeholders, streamlining the feedback loop for future server upgrades.
  • Authored comprehensive technical documentation and delivered executive-level briefings aligning IT initiatives with strategic priorities.
C4ISRService ManagementITILLeadership
2019 — 2023

Cybersecurity Standards Officer (Capt) — Signal Officer · Directorate of Cyber Operations Force Development · CAF

Canada

Led a detachment of cross-functional specialists supporting the delivery and development of cybersecurity individual training and education, increasing CAF cyber capability by over 40%.

  • Directed analysts in multi-national red vs blue cyber exercises; managed incident response tactics, refined standard operating procedures, and maintained networks and servers.
  • Advised on resource allocation for $2M+ cybersecurity training contracts through the Request For Proposal process with Public Services and Procurement Canada; Served as lead technical consultant for multiple Statements of Work, establishing the framework for a CAF Cyber Training Centre of Excellence.
  • Designed curriculum and learning objectives for courses in cyber defence analysis, malware analysis, digital forensics, cloud security, and penetration testing.
  • Managed a $250K annual training budget; collaborated with RMC and academic partners to modernize cyber curriculum; provided technical guidance to general officers on CAF cyber force development.
Cyber TrainingProcurementIncident ResponseCurriculum DevelopmentContract Writing
2014 — 2018

Operations Officer, EW / SIGINT (Capt) — Signal Officer · 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment · CAF

Kingston, ON

Managed a team of 25 soldiers executing electronic warfare and signals intelligence operations (EWSI) supporting battalion-level and brigade-level exercises in light (dismounted) and medium (mobilized) troops.

  • Planned and coordinated live EWSI operations in a $750K training environment with Canadian and international Five Eyes partners in coordination with CSE and other government departments.
  • Designed and deployed high-security zones per CSE policies: multi-layered physical security, crisis response, command-and-control communication plans, and robust power and network designs; conducted security audits.
  • Responsible for tracking, storing, and managing top-secret EWSI equipment and vehicle platforms, ensuring deployable readiness in accordance with compliance guidelines.
Electronic WarfareSIGINTPhysical SecurityOperationsAuditing
2011 — 2013

Business Analyst · OpenText Corporation

Waterloo, ON

Led cross-functional initiatives within the web marketing team, managing and delivering IT projects, such as web applications, portal pages, and product management, to support interoperability.

  • Liaised between stakeholders and technical teams to gather, document, and validate business requirements; coordinated Agile sprint planning, prioritization, and review processes.
  • Configured internal DNS servers, oversaw corporate domains, coordinated IT resources, managed external vendors, and controlled a $500K budget to ensure business continuity.
  • Developed user-acceptance test plans and technical documentation to support delivery of new web projects.
Business AnalyticsAgileDNSWeb Applications

ai-ml/

AI & machine learning

A practice area combining formal mathematics, published deep-learning research, and an operational security mindset.

Deep Learning for Anomaly Detection

Peer-reviewed research detecting malicious anomalies in heavy-duty vehicular networks using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models; a forward-looking approach to threat modeling and digital infrastructure security.

TensorflowLSTMtime-seriesCAN bus / J1939

Financial Projections Modeling

Probabilistic revenue and cash-flow projection models for consulting engagements; scenario analysis, sensitivity testing, and Monte Carlo simulation with clearly stated assumptions.

PythonpandasNumPyMonte Carlo methods

AI Mathematical Reasoning

Authoring, solving, and evaluating advanced mathematics problems, such as proofs, optimization, and applied modeling, used to train and benchmark large language models. Also, developing educational content and curriculum for topics in mathematics.

Pythonformal proof reviewLLM evaluation

projects/

Current coding projects & research

Active and recent technical work — each project ships with documentation, tests, and clearly stated assumptions.

Published

LSTM Anomaly Detection in Vehicular Networks ↗

Published research detecting malicious anomalies in heavy-duty vehicular networks using long short-term memory models.

  • Peer-reviewed publication in Sensors, 25(14), 4430 (2025), with S. P. Leblanc.
  • Forward-looking approach to intrusion detection on vehicle network telemetry.
TensorFlowLSTMPython

Active

AI Math Trainer Portfolio

A curated body of advanced mathematics problems in optimization and analysis used for solution verification of LLM training and evaluation.

  • Reusable problem/rubric templates for AI-training platform engagements.
Claude AIPythonNumPy

Active

Optimization Consulting Toolkit

A production-ready template library for client optimization engagements: standardized model formulation documents, solver harnesses, and validation test suites.

  • Cuts engagement setup time by reusing formulation patterns for scheduling, routing, and allocation.
  • Every model ships with a test case verifying constraint logic and objective behaviour.
PythonMatplotlibOR-Toolspandas

Recent

Financial Projection Engine

Monte Carlo financial-projection models for small-business or personal planning: revenue scenarios, tax-efficient planning, and best/worst case reporting based on volatility.

  • Interactive scenario calculators and recommendations.
PythonNumPyExcel

resume/

Resume

Education, certifications, and core skills at a glance. The full CV is available as a formatted page or a downloadable PDF.

Education

  • Master of Applied Science (Computer Network Security)
    Royal Military College of Canada
    2021
  • Bachelor of Mathematics (Honours Combinatorics & Optimization, Psychology Minor)
    University of Waterloo
    2013

Certifications

  • ITIL v4 Foundation — PeopleCert (2026)
  • ITSG-33 — Overview of Cyber Security and Privacy Management: A Lifecycle Approach — Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) (2025)
  • Certified ScrumMaster (Agile Training) — Scrum Alliance (2013)

Core skills

  • Security & FrameworksISO 27001NIST CSF 2.0ITSG-33MITRE ATT&CKIncident responseVulnerability managementCryptography
  • Platforms & InfrastructureWindows ServerActive DirectoryAzureO365VMwareDNS
  • Data & AutomationPythonPowerShellTensorFlowOR-Toolspandasscikit-learnSQLMATLABClaude AI
  • Management & MethodsAgile / ScrumITIL / ITSMBudgeting & procurementRFP / Statements of WorkTeam leadership & mentoring
View full CVDownload PDF

publications/

Publications & references

Academic and professional publications, technical reports, and notable contributions.