Gaétan Bédard Explained

Gaétan Bédard
Birth Place:Sherbrooke
Allegiance:Canada
Branch:Canadian Army
Serviceyears:1994–present
Rank:Colonel
Commands:RMC Saint-Jean
Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School
Battles:Yugoslav Wars

War in Afghanistan

Awards:Canadian Forces' Decoration
Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Commendation

Colonel Gaétan Bédard, is a Canadian Army officer who is currently serving as the Commandant of RMC Saint-Jean since July 23, 2021.[1] Previously, Bédard served as commandant of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School[2] and was a 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.

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. 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 July 2021, Bédard took over command of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean and is currently the CO.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New Faces at the Helm of RMC and RMC Saint-Jean / De nouveaux leaders pour le CMR et le CMR Saint-Jean. 2021-11-01. e-Veritas. en-US. 2021-11-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20211101230340/https://everitas.rmcclub.ca/new-faces-at-the-helm-of-rmc-and-rmc-saint-jean-de-nouveaux-leaders-pour-le-cmr-et-le-cmr-saint-jean/. dead.
  2. News: 2016-09-19. Enquête sur la mort soudaine d'un jeune militaire en formation. 2021-11-01. La Presse. fr. Teisceira-Lessard . Philippe .
  3. Web site: Departement of National Defence. Chief Military Personnel. 2015-06-23. Commandant's Biography - Royal Military College Saint-Jean (RMC Saint-Jean). 2021-11-01. www.cmrsj-rmcsj.forces.gc.ca.
  4. Book: Defence., Canada. Department of National. 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.. 2014. [National Defence]. Canada. 65. en, fr.
  5. Ventura-Giroux. Alexandrea. 11 Aug 2016. LE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BÉDARD À LA TÊTE DE L'ELRFC. SERVIR. 23.
  6. Web site: rédaction. La. Passation de commandement de l'École de leadership et de recrues des Forces canadiennes (PHOTOS) – 45eNord.ca. 2021-11-01. fr-FR.