Gaétan Bédard
Gaétan Bédard | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Allegiance | Canada |
Branch | Canadian Army |
Service years | 1994-2023 |
Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands | RMC Saint-Jean Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School |
Conflicts | Yugoslav Wars War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Canadian Forces' Decoration Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Commendation US Army Commendation Medal |
Colonel Gaétan Bédard, CD is a retired Canadian Army colonel who served as the Commandant of RMC Saint-Jean.[1] Previously, Bédard served as commandant of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School[2] and was an Executive Assistant to the Vice Chief of the Defense Staff at National Defense Headquarters.[3]
Education
Gaétan Bédard enrolled into the Canadian Armed Forces in 1994 and attended the Royal Military College Saint-Jean and the Royal Military College of Canada where he would graduate with a bachelor's degree in military studies. In addition he holds a Masters of Defence Studies from the Canadian Forces College, and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the US Army Command and General Staff College.[3]
Military career
After Graduating from the Royal Military College Bédard commissioned into the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment as a Infantry Platoon commander. In 2002 he would deploy to Bosnia and Herzegovina for Operation Palladium part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[3] He would later be a Company commander in Operation Hestia in Haiti with the 3rd Battalion. He would later deploy to Afghanistan as a mentor to Afghan army and police elements, for which he would be awarded with the Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation.[4]
In 2016, Bédard took command of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School a position he held until 2018.[5][6] In 2026, Gaétan Bédard took command of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School, a position he held until 2018. In June 2021, he took over command of RMC Saint-Jean until his retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces in July 2023.
References
- ↑ "New Faces at the Helm of RMC and RMC Saint-Jean / De nouveaux leaders pour le CMR et le CMR Saint-Jean". e-Veritas. Archived from the original on 2021-11-01. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ↑ Teisceira-Lessard, Philippe (2016-09-19). "Enquête sur la mort soudaine d'un jeune militaire en formation". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- 1 2 3 Departement of National Defence, Chief Military Personnel (2015-06-23). "Commandant's Biography - Royal Military College Saint-Jean (RMC Saint-Jean)". www.cmrsj-rmcsj.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ↑ Defence., Canada. Department of National (2014). Honours & recognition for the men and women of the Canadian Forces 2013 = Distinctions honorifiques et reconnaissance pour les hommes et femmes des Forces canadiennes 2013 (PDF) (in English and French). Canada: [National Defence]. p. 65.
- ↑ Ventura-Giroux, Alexandrea (11 Aug 2016). "LE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BÉDARD À LA TÊTE DE L'ELRFC". SERVIR. 23.
- ↑ rédaction, La. "Passation de commandement de l'École de leadership et de recrues des Forces canadiennes (PHOTOS) – 45eNord.ca" (in French). Retrieved 2021-11-01.