Canadian Army officer
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]
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
