Gaétan Bédard

Colonel Gaétan Bédard, CD 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 an Executive Assistant to the Vice Chief of the Defense Staff at National Defense Headquarters.^[3]

Gaétan Bédard
Born	Sherbrooke
Allegiance	Canada
Service / branch	Canadian Army
Years of service	1994–present
Rank	Colonel
Commands	RMC Saint-Jean Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School
Battles / wars	Yugoslav Wars NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina War in Afghanistan
Awards	Canadian Forces' Decoration Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Commendation

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

References

1. "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.
2. 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.
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.
4. 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.
5. Ventura-Giroux, Alexandrea (11 Aug 2016). "LE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BÉDARD À LA TÊTE DE L'ELRFC". SERVIR. 23.
6. 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.