Co-presented with the the Families of Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan.
This is a free public event. All are welcome. Please RSVP.
Speaker Bio
BGen Thompson joined the Militia as a Private in 1978 and entered le Collége Militaire Royal de St. Jean in 1979. In 1984, he graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada at Kingston and served with the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment in Winnipeg, Cyprus and Germany. In 1990, BGen Thompson attended the Royal Military College of Science in Shrivenham, England and was subsequently employed in the Light Armoured Vehicle Project in Ottawa. From 1992 to 1995 he served as the Training Officer for Joint Task Force 2. Upon promotion to Major in 1995, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment as Officer Commanding G Company, leading them as part of the Queen’s Royal Hussars Battle Group on the initial NATO mission in Bosnia. In 1998, BGen Thompson was appointed the Deputy Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, afterward joining Headquarters 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as the G3. On 29 June 2000, Col Thompson assumed command of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment deploying with them in 2001 as the Battle Group Commander in Bosnia. On leaving Regimental duty in July 2002, he took up a post as a policy officer with responsibility for Africa. In 2004, he was seconded to Foreign Affairs Canada, leaving on promotion to Colonel in January 2005 as the Director of Peacekeeping Policy. In June 2006, BGen Thompson was appointed Brigade Commander of 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Petawawa until assuming command of Headquarters, Joint Task Force – Afghanistan (Rotation 5) on 13 August 2007. BGen Thompson is a licensed Professional Engineer and his academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Applied Military Science.