On 13 June 2020, LCol Krista Bouckaert was promoted to the rank of Colonel.

LGen Eyre and Col Bouckart’s husband, LCol Dave Warnke, were present for the ceremony.

Congratulation to Col Krista Bouckaert! A great day for the CAF and for the Gunner community.
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Le 13 juin 2020, le Lcol Krista Bouckaert a été promu au grade de colonel.

Le lgén Eyre et le mari du col Bouckart, le lcol Dave Warnke, étaient présents à la cérémonie.

Félicitations au col Krista Bouckaert! Un grand jour pour les FAC et pour la communauté des artilleurs.

7 May 2020, LCol Nickolas Roby was promoted to the rank of Colonel.

The Minister of National Defence (MND), the Honourable Harjit Sajjan , along with LGen Rouleau oversaw the promotion ceremony of Col Roby. Attending virtually via Facetime were Col Roby’s spouse, children, parents and his sibling.

Congratulation to Col Nick Roby! A great day for the CAF and for the Gunner community.
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Le 7 mai 2020, le col Nickolas Roby a été promu au grade de colonel.

Le ministre de la Défense nationale (MND), l'honorable Harjit Sajjan, ainsi que le Lgén Rouleau ont supervisé la cérémonie de promotion du col Roby. Le conjoint du col Roby, ses enfants, ses parents et son frère étaient présents virtuellement via Facetime.

Félicitations au col Nick Roby! Un grand jour pour les FAC et pour la communauté des artilleurs.

Major Richard (Rick) Parent will be retiring on 15 July 2020 following 17 plus years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canada and the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery (RCA).
 
Major Parent joined the CAF in June 2003 from Calgary, AB. He attended CMR St-Jean and RMC Kingston, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Computers Engineering. Following commissioning, he was posted to the 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (2 RCHA) in Petawawa, on where he served in a variety of positions spanning the troop battery and regimental levels. In 2010, he deployed as an M77 Troop Commander with D Battery, 2 RCHA on OP ATHENA Roto 9 / Task Force 1-10, where his team provided fire support to the 1-502nd (First Strike Bn), 101st Airborne Division, and the 1 RCR Battle Group. Upon his return from Afghanistan, he was employed as the Forward Observation Officer (FOO) for the 2 CMBG Para Company Group and as 2IC of E Battery, 2 RCHA. Following his first Regimental Tour, he attended the Army Technical Staff Officer Program (ATSOP) in 2013. He remained in Kingston with a posting to the 1st Canadian Division Headquarters where he fulfilled staff positions as the J7-3 and as Aide-de-Camp to the Division Commander before being promoted to his current rank in June 2016. He had the honour of command X Battery, 5e Régiment d’artillerie Légère du Canada (5 RALC) in Valcartier, QC from 2016-2018. Until retirement,  Major Parent was the Project Director for the Joint Fires Modernization (JFM) project within Director of Land Requirements (DLR) 2, where he led the project through an expedited options analysis phase, as well as a large portfolio of joint fire and targeting initiatives.
 
Major Parent and his wife Christelle will remain in Ottawa to raise their young daughters – Juliette and Anabelle. Maj Parent is honoured to have served the nation as a Gunner Officer and is forever grateful to the many life-long friends and mentors who have shaped him into the man, father, leader, and Canadian that he is today. Major Parent will retire from the military, but remain within the Defence Team as a systems engineer to continue his passion towards driving the delivery of modernize joint fires and digital command and control (C2) capabilities to the solider.
 
Due to the ongoing risks associated with COVID-19, the plan for a small, informal Departure with Dignity has been postponed until a later date. He looks forward to having a local craft beer with all those that he has served with in the near future.
 
Please send anecdotes/messages to Captain Matt Haynes, DLR2-2-2, (Matthew.Haynes@forces.gc.ca) NLT 01 July 2020.
 
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Le major Richard (Rick) Parent prendra sa retraite le 15 juillet 2020 après plus de 17 ans de loyaux et dévoues services au Canada et le Régiment Royal de L’Artillerie Canadienne (RRAC).
 
Le major Parent a joint les FAC en juin 2003 en provenance de Calgary, AB. Il a étudié au CMR St-Jean ainsi qu’au CMR de Kingston, ou il a obtenu son baccalauréat du département de génie électrique et informatique. Après sa graduation, il a été affecté au 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (2 RCHA) a Petawawa, ON où il a occupé divers postes au sein de la troupe, de la batterie, et du régiment. En 2010 il a été déployé en tant que commandant de troupe M777 avec la batterie D, 2 RCHA pour Op ATHENA Roto 9 (force opérationnelle 1-10), ou il a servi avec le 1-502 (First Strike Bataillon), 101e Division Aéroportée (États-Unis, et le group tactique du 1 RCR. A son retour d’Afghanistan, il a été employé en tant qu’officier observateur avancé pour le 2 GBMC groupement compagnie aéroportée et comme commandant adjoint de la batterie E, 2 RCHA. Après sa première affectation au régiment, il a été muté à Kingston, ON afin de suivre le programme d’état-major technique de l’armée (PEMTA). Il a eu la chance de rester à Kingston suivant sa formation et a été affecté au quartier-général de la 1re division du Canada, ou il a occupé les postes d’état-major du J7-3 et aide-de-camp du commandant de la division avant d’être promu a son grade actuel en Juin 2016. Il a eu ‘honneur de commander la batterie X du 5E Régiment D’artillerie Légère (5 RALC) à Valcartier, QC, de 2016 à 2018. Jusqu’à sa retraite, le major parent a été le directeur du projet de modernisation des feux interarmées (MFI) au sein du directeur-besoins en ressources terrestres (DBRT) 2, où il a dirigé le projet pendant une phase d’analyse des options accélérée, ainsi qu’un portefeuille d’initiatives des feux interarmées et de ciblage.
 
Le major Parent et son épouse Christelle resteront à Ottawa pour élever leurs jeunes  filles – Juliette et Anabelle. Il est honoré d’avoir servi la nation en tant qu’officier d’artillerie et est a jamais reconnaissant envers les nombreux amis et mentors de longue date qui l’ont transformé en l’homme, le père, le leader, et le Canadien qu’il est aujourd’hui. Le major Parent prendra sa retraite de l’armée mais restera au sein de l’équipe de défense en tant qu’ingénieur des systèmes afin de poursuivre sa passion pour la modernisation des feux interarmées et de capacités numériques de commandement et de contrôle (C2) aux soldats.
 
En raison des risque associes au COVID-19, le plan d’avoir un départ dans la dignité a été reporté à une date ultérieure. Il se rejoint a l’idée de boire une bière artisanale local avec tous ceux qu’il a servis avec dans un avenir proche.
 
Veuillez envoyer les anecdotes/messages au capitaine Matt Haynes, DBRT 2-2-2, (Matthew.Haynes@forces.gc.ca) NLT 10 juillet 2020.

27 Apr 2020, Maj Andy Wood was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

This auspicious day was celebrated with his wife Julie.

Congratulation to LCol Andy Wood! A great day for the CAF and for the Gunner community.

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Le 27 avr 2020, le maj Andy Wood a été promu au grade de lieutenant-colonel.

Cette journée propice a été célébrée avec son épouse Julie.

Félicitations au Lcol Andy Wood! Un grand jour pour les FAC et pour la communauté des artilleurs.

Maj Luc Frenette will retire from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) on 15 February 2020 after 33 years of loyal and dedicated service.

Maj Luc Frenette joined the CAF on September 1986 and completed his basic officer training in April 1987. As a junior officer, he served with 5e Regiment D’Artillerie Legere du Canada (RALC) in various capacities, include OPCR, adjutant and operations officer. 

Following his first regimental tour, he was employed as an instructor with the Canadian Forces Officer Candidate School (CFOCS) in Chilliwack BC from 1992 to 1995.

After completing the Instructor-in-Gunnery course in 1996, he served as an instructor with the Royal Canadian Artillery School from 1996 to 2000. While serving at the RCAS, he completed the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College from January to May 1998.

During his second regimental tour in Valcartier, Maj Frenette deployed in the former Yugoslavia and on return was posted to 2 Canadian Division Training Centre where he served as the Operations Officer for two years. Despite being an active second regimental tour, he managed to complete a bachelor degree Military Arts and Science from RMC in his spare time.
Promoted to his current rank in 2006, he was employed with Army Training detachment Ottawa, coordinating the international collective training with other NATO countries.

In January 2010, he took over as the second Canada Army Run Director, overseeing two serials that tool the run to a new level, from 7000 to over 20,000 participants.

In 2012 Maj Frenette was sent to the Canadian Defense Liaison Staff in Washington, DC where he served with the military attaché section for two years.

In July 2015, he was posted to Edmonton and was appointed as the Commanding Officer of JPSU Alberta and Northern Canada Region, responsible for four support centres across the province. After what he considered the two most challenging years of his career, Maj Frenette left his command to return to Ottawa, where he served as a Senior Watchkeeping Officer with the Canadian Forces Integrated Command Centre until retirement.

After 33 plus years of service, Maj Frenette will cease to be a CAF member on 15 February 2020 with the satisfaction of having accomplished more than he signed for at the very beginning.
 Already established in Aylmer, Quebec, Luc and Judy intend to remain in the Ottawa Region and enjoy his new life with family and friends.

An Informal Departure with Dignity (DWD) ceremony will take place at the Lone Star Texas Grill 1211 Lemieux St, Ottawa on 7 February 2020, at 1200hrs. Please make your reservations with CPO2 Olejnik at Romuald.Olejnik@forces.gc.ca
 
Anyone who would like to congratulate Luc or send any anecdotes should contact CPO2 Olejnik at Romuald.Olejnik@forces.gc.ca

LCol Robert Stewart Dunn will be retiring on 3 February 2020 with 33 plus years of loyal and dedicated service to Canada and the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery (RCA).
 
LCol Dunn enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) at CFB LAHR, West Germany in June 1986. He graduated from le collège Militaire Royal de Saint-Jean (CMR) with a Bachelor of Arts in Military and Strategic Studies in May 1991. He completed numerous staff and command positions as a junior/senior officer at the Royal Canadian Artillery School (RCAS) and First Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery ( 1 RCHA). He graduated from the Army’s Technical Staff Program (1999/2000) with an exposure of the project management required for Army procurement. He worked at the Directorate Land Requirements (DLR) as a captain with the clothe the soldier project (2000/2003) and later as a LCol responsible for all the procurement initiatives supporting Canada’s artillery within the Canadian Army (2014/2017). Highlights of his career include being deployed as the G3 for Task Force Kandahar (TFK 5 09) on Op Athena (Afghanistan in 2009) and deployed as the Chief Deliberate Targets for Operation INHERENT RESOLVE (OIR in 2016). Another important milestone include his time as the Commanding Officer and Chief of Staff for 33 Canadian Brigade Group (2012/2014). He served at the Canadian Joint Warfare Centre (CJWC) and worked to operationalize the CAF’s Joint Targeting enterprise (2017/2020).
 
LCol Dunn is honoured to have served with so many great Canadians in the CAF/DND at home and abroad. He is truly grateful for their patience, mentorship and friendship while soldiering, working and playing hockey over the past 30 years. LCol Dunn will retire from the military to join the Defence industry in order to continue providing excellent service to our solders and our great nation.
 
LCol Dunn and his family will remain in Ottawa. His Depart with Dignity will take place on 15 January 2020 at the Bell SENSPLEX Arena (1565 Maple Grove Rd, Kanata) with free skating from 11:15 to 12:15 followed by drinks at Stanley’s Restaurant, also located at the SENSPLEX Arena (no-host lunch). All are most welcome to attend and celebrate with family and friends. Please RSVP and send anecdotes/messages to Major Olivier Gallant, CJWC (Olivier.Gallant@forces.gc.ca) NLT 10 Jan 2020.
 
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Le 3 février 2020, le lcol Robert Stewart Dunn prendra sa retraite après plus de 33 ans de bons et loyaux services envers le Canada et le Régiment Royal de l’Artillerie Canadienne (RRAC).
 
En juin 1986, le lcol Dunn s’enrôlé dans les Forces Armées Canadienne (FAC) à la BFC LAHR, en Allemagne de l’ouest. En mai 1991, il obtient un baccalauréat en  arts et études militaires stratégiques du collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean (CMR). Il occupé de nombreux postes de commandement et d’état-major a titre d’officier subalterne  et supérieur à l’école de l’artillerie royale Canadienne (EARC) et au 1er Régiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1 RCHA). Il réussit le programme d’état-major technique de l’armée (1999/2000)  et acquiert les connaissances requises pour assumer la gestion des projets lies à l’approvisionnement de l’armée de terre. Le lcol Dunn assuma les fonctions au sein du Directeur Besoins en Ressources Terrestres (DBRT) en tant que capitaine dans le cadre dur projet habillez le soldat (2000/2003) et, plus tard, en tant que lcol responsable de toutes les initiatives d’approvisionnement a l’appui de l’artillerie au sein de l’armée Canadienne (2014-2017). Parmi les points saillant de sa carrière, notons sa participation à un déploiement a titre de G3 de la force opérationnelle Kandahar (FO Kandahar 5 09) dans le cadre de l’op ATHENA (Afghanistan 2009), de même qu’un déploiement en tant que chef cibles délibérées au cours de l’opération INHERENT RESOLVE (2016). Son affectation en qualité de commandant et de chef d’état-major du 33e groupe-brigade du Canada (2012/2014) constitué un autre jalon important de sa carrière. Le lcol Dunn assumé des fonctions au centre du guerre interarmées du Canada (CGIC) et participé aux efforts d’opérationnalisation du collectif du ciblage interarmées des FAC (2017/2020)
 
Le lcol Dunn est honoré d’avoir eu l’occasion de servir les FAC et un grand nombre de Canadiens d’exception, tant au pays qu’à l’étranger. Il est vraiment reconnaissant d’avoir bénéficié de la patience, du mentorat et de l’amitié des militaires avec  lesquels il a eu la chance de collaborer et de jouer au hockey pendant plus de 30 ans. A sa retraite, le lcol Dunn se joindra a l’industrie de la defense afin de continuer à offrir un excellent service à nos soldats et à notre grand pays.
 
Le lcol Dunn et sa famille demeureront à Ottawa. Une cérémonie de départ dans la dignité aura le 15 janvier 2020, à l’aréna Bell SENSPLEX (1565 Maple Grove Rd, Kanata). A cette occasion, les participants pourront patiner de 11h à 12h avant de se réunir autour d’un verre au resto-bar Stanley’s, également situé a l’aréna Bell SENSPLEX (le repas n’est pas fourni). Toutes les personnes qui souhaitent assister à la cérémonie et souligner le départ du lcol Dunn avec leur famille et leurs amis sont les bienvenues.  Confirmez votre présence et transmettez vos anecdotes/messages au major Olivier Gallant, CGIC (Olivier.Gallant@forces.gc.ca).