Senior Appointments
of The Royal Canadian Regiment
Colonel of the Regiment
Major General Walter M. Holmes, MBE, CD
Mr. Douglas Weldon
Senior Serving Royal Canadian
Major-General Peter Devlin, OMM, MSC, CD
Chairman of the Regimental Senate
Major-General Peter Devlin, OMM, MSC, CD
Chairman of the Regimental Executive Committee
Brigadier-General M. P. Jorgensen OMM, MSM, CD
Regimental Colonel
Colonel M.J. Pearson, MSC, CD
Regimental Secretary
Lieutenant Colonel C.M. Hand, CD
Commander Home Station
Lieutenant Colonel M.R. McDonald, CD
Regimental Chief Warrant Officer
Chief Warrant Officer M.R. Hornbrook, MMM, CD
Colonel of the Regiment
Major General Walter M. Holmes, MBE, CD
Born in London Ontario, Major General Holmes began his military career as an Army Cadet with the No. 9 London City Cadet Corps in 1960. He joined the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment as a Reservist in 1963. Following a year of intensive officer training at the Royal Canadian School of Infantry he was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Regiment and posted to the 1st Battalion in 1967. Since his commissioning he has had the good fortune to command soldiers from platoon to formation level.
Command of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, the Canadian Airborne Regiment, Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, 2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and Land Force Central Area in Toronto were a warm up for the highlight of his career, command of NATO's Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land) based in Heidelberg Germany. AMF(L) was NATO's primary tactical level rapid reaction land formation comprised of a force pool of 22,000 soldiers from 17 different Allied nations. Major General Holmes' staff tours were thankfully few with those that he did do being operational or training focused.
Foreign service includes tours in Germany, the United States, England, Libya, and United Nations tours in Cyprus and Egypt. Three exchange tours with the British Army, first as a platoon commander in Libya, then as an exchange officer with the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in England and finally in Germany as a operational staff officer with Headquarters 1st British Corps, were personally and professionally very rewarding . Equally beneficial were a year spent as a student at the US Army War College followed by a two year tour as the Military Attaché in the Canadian Embassy in Washington. He has also journeyed to many other countries and has the distinction of having traveled to North Norway on 20 separate occasions, all but one of these during the winter.
Major General Holmes has been decorated for service by Canada, Great Britain, the United States, Luxembourg and the United Nations.
Major General Holmes officially retired from the Canadian Forces in January 2003 and he is now a self-employed consultant. He remains committed to the military through his work and his active participation as a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment, Canadian Airborne Forces, First Special Service Force and other military Associations.
He and his wife Lana live in Kingston, Ontario and between them they have five children.
Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel 4RCR
Mr. Douglas Weldon
Born on 2 March, 1954, LCol Weldon was educated at Ridley College and Canadian Junior College and graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts. Since then, he has been actively engaged in the management of Prospect Farms, a standard bred equine nursery and cropping operation in Arva for 30 years. From this base, he has had a hand in varying business operations, notably in real estate, food service, light manufacturing, and several livestock and farm enterprises. Prospect Farms has been prominent over the years in the raising of Aberdeen Angus cattle, standard bred horses and red deer. The farm today is producing a few trotters and growing a small cash crop. Interests in real estate and family investments occupy some of his time but he can be found at the farm when time allows.
The family home property, occupied by Weldon's parents, David and Ina Weldon, was the scene of many RCR social events in LCol Weldon's grandfather's time. His grandfather, Douglas Black Weldon, was the first Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of 4RCR (then 3RCR) and served from 1954 to 1965.
LCol Weldon has served on many charitable boards over 20 years, currently sitting on the Boards of the Merrymount Foundation (Board of Directors), Orchestra London (Board of Directors), Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, (Board of Governors) , St. Johns Ambulance Foundation, The United Way, Leadership Committee 2006.
Weldon also serves on the Boards of the following publicly-listed and owned Companies: DOVER INDUSTRIES LTD. (DVI) (on the Audit Committee), a large Canadian manufacturer of flour, paper cups, straws and ice cream cones; GODERICH ELEVATORS LTD. (GEL) (on the Investment Committee), a grain storage and conditioning business, recently moving into milling mustard flour. He has had considerable fiduciary experience as an active member of Investment, Audit and/or Corporate Governance committees of many London area organizations, present and past, including: Foundation Western, King's College, The Grand Theatre (1 term as President). LCol Weldon is married to Estela Quintero-Weldon and between them they have six children. They live in Arva with their four daughters.
Senior Serving Royal Canadian
Major-General P.J. Devlin, OMM, MSC, CD
Major-General Peter Devlin enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1978 under the Regular Officer Training Program and was commissioned as an infantry officer into The Royal Canadian Regiment.
MGen Devlin has spent the majority of his career in the field and has served in 1, 2 and 4 Canadian Brigade Groups as well as the Special Service Force. He has commanded from the platoon to brigade group level most notably commanding 1st Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment (1997-1999) and 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2002-2004). His staff assignments have included operations positions in Army Headquarters, G3 - 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, and Chief of Staff of the Canadian Forces Medical Group.
MGen Devlin has several operational tours including UN tours in Cyprus (1984-85) and the former Yugoslavia (1992), two NATO tours in Bosnia (1996-97) including one as the Canadian Battle Group Commanding Officer (1998), and most recently an International Security Assistance Force tour as Commander of the Kabul Multinational Brigade in Kabul, Afghanistan (2003-2004). His unit was awarded the Commander-in-Chief Citation for opening the Sarajevo airport in 1992, and he was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross in October 2004 for his efforts in Afghanistan.
MGen Devlin is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, the Canadian Forces Staff School, the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College, and the Canadian Forces College (Command and Staff Course and Advanced Military Studies Course), and the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He is Canadian and German parachute qualified. MGen Devlin was appointed to the Order of Military Merit in December 1997.
Chairman of the Regimental Senate
Major-General P.J. Devlin, OMM, MSC, CD
Major-General Peter Devlin enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1978 under the Regular Officer Training Program and was commissioned as an infantry officer into The Royal Canadian Regiment.
MGen Devlin has spent the majority of his career in the field and has served in 1, 2 and 4 Canadian Brigade Groups as well as the Special Service Force. He has commanded from the platoon to brigade group level most notably commanding 1st Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment (1997-1999) and 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2002-2004). His staff assignments have included operations positions in Army Headquarters, G3 - 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, and Chief of Staff of the Canadian Forces Medical Group.
MGen Devlin has several operational tours including UN tours in Cyprus (1984-85) and the former Yugoslavia (1992), two NATO tours in Bosnia (1996-97) including one as the Canadian Battle Group Commanding Officer (1998), and most recently an International Security Assistance Force tour as Commander of the Kabul Multinational Brigade in Kabul, Afghanistan (2003-2004). His unit was awarded the Commander-in-Chief Citation for opening the Sarajevo airport in 1992, and he was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross in October 2004 for his efforts in Afghanistan.
MGen Devlin is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, the Canadian Forces Staff School, the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College, and the Canadian Forces College (Command and Staff Course and Advanced Military Studies Course), and the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He is Canadian and German parachute qualified. MGen Devlin was appointed to the Order of Military Merit in December 1997.
Chairman of the Regimental Executive Committee
BGen M. P. Jorgensen OMM, MSM, CD
Brigadier-General Mike Jorgensen was commissioned in 1980 and spent his first Regimental tour with the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment in CFB Gagetown, completing the US Army Ranger course in 1982, and a tour in Cyprus in 1983. From 1984 to 1987 he served at the Infantry School in CFB Gagetown, moving to the Canadian Airborne Regiment in 1987. He completed the CLFCSC in 1988.
He was posted to rifle company command in the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, in Germany in 1989. He moved to command administration company the following year.
Having returned from Germany in 1991, Brigadier-General Jorgensen completed the CFCSC. He spent the two subsequent years as a member of the Directing Staff at the CFSS Toronto, prior to moving to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, as DCO. As DCO, he deployed with the unit to Croatia on Operation HARMONY in 1994.
Brigadier-General Jorgensen joined Headquarters, 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as the G3 in December of 1995, participating in Operation RECUPERATION (Winnipeg floods) in 1996.
Brigadier-General Jorgensen commanded the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, in CFB Petawawa, during the period 1997-2000. During this three-year tour, he deployed on Operation ASSISTANCE (Ice Storm), and to Bosnia in July 1998 as the Commander of the 3 RCR Battle Group on Operation PALLADIUM.
Brigadier-General Jorgensen arrived at the CLFCSC in 2000 to take up a position as a member of the Directing Staff. He served one year in that capacity prior to being promoted and posted to LFDTS, as the Director of Army Training. In July 2004 he was appointed Director Professional Development at the Canadian Defence Academy in Kingston.
From 2005 to 2007, he commanded the Combat Training Centre in CFB Gagetown. He completed the NSSP at CFC prior to assuming command of LFWA on 22 August 2008. He is married to Marlene Jorgensen, and they have two children - Devon and Brenley.
Regimental Colonel
Colonel M.J. Pearson, CD
Biography and Photo to follow.
Regimental Secretary
Lieutenant Colonel C.M. Hand, CD
Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Hand was born in Scarborough, Ontario and raised near Boston Mills. He enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1981 and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1986 with a Bachelor Degree (History). He completed his Infantry Officer training in 1987 and commenced regimental duty with 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, in London, Ontario.
As a junior officer Lieutenant-Colonel Hand was a Platoon Commander, the Unit Emplaning Officer and the Battalion Intelligence Officer, deploying to Cyprus 1989-90. On returning to Canada, he was posted to National Defence Headquarters as a national plans desk officer and later as Staff Officer to the Director General Military Plans and Operations. In 1993 he was posted to CFB Gagetown where he served in various appointments with 2nd Battalion, Base Staff, Tactics School and the Infantry School. He was promoted Major in 1998 and deployed to Bosnia in 1999 as Officer Commanding Hotel Company. On returning to Canada he was appointed Officer Commanding Lima Company, and in 2001 he deployed to Ethiopia and Eritrea as a Liaison Officer, where he also acted temporarily as Commander, Eastern Sector.
In 2002, Lieutenant-Colonel Hand completed Canadian Forces Command and Staff College Toronto, and completed a Masters of Arts degree (History) at the University of New Brunswick. In 2003 he was posted to the United Kingdom as the Canadian Exchange Officer at Force Development Branch, Headquarters Infantry - Land Warfare Centre, Warminster. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, he returned to Canada in 2005 and was posted to National Defence Headquarters as Project Manager, Military Occupational Structures, Analysis, Design and Tailoring Project (MOSART).
Lieutenant-Colonel Hand was posted to Gagetown, New-Brunswick in 2006 and was appointed Commandant, Tactics School. He is married to Jane Schenk of Ayton, Ontario and they have two children. Lieutenant-Colonel Hand is on the Bishop and Chapter of Christ Church Cathedral in Fredericton, New Brunswick and is the author of a volume in the New Brunswick military history series entitled The Siege of Fort Beausejour, 1755.
Sep 2007
Commander Home Station
Lieutenant Colonel M.R. McDonald, CD
Biography and Photo to Follow.
.
Regimental Chief Warrant Officer
Chief Warrant Officer M.R. Hornbrook, MMM, CD
CWO Hornbrook was born in Yellowknife NWT and grew up in Ottawa ON. In 1981 he joined the military as an Infantryman and upon completion of basic and infantry training, was posted to 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (1RCR), CFB London, ON. He remained in 1 RCR until 1990 serving in a number of positions within Rifle Companies and Mortar Platoon.
After spending a brief tour within the Infantry School, CFB Gagetown, NB in the Mortar and Small Arms Cell, he was posted in 1991 to Warminster, UK on exchange with the British Infantry School where he held the positions of Section Commander and QMSI. While employed in the UK, he taught on both the Platoon Sergeant's Battle Course and Platoon Commander's Battle Course.
CWO Hornbrook was posted back to Canada in 1993, and was employed in the Infantry School, CFB Gagetown, NB as the Subject Matter Expert in the Small Arms Cell. In 1995 he was posted to 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR) as a Company Quartermaster and upon promotion to MWO in 1996, was posted back to the Infantry School within the Standards Cell. In 1997 CWO Hornbrook was posted back to 2RCR as the Company Sergeant Major for India Company.
CWO Hornbrook was posted to Land Forces Central Area Training Center, CFB Meaford, ON in 1999 as the Drill Sergeant Major. Upon promotion to CWO in 2001 he was posted to Ottawa ON where he completed the year long French course. He was then posted to NDHQ within the DCDS Group, working under J3 International as a Staff Officer for deployed Operations.
In 2003 CWO Hornbrook was posted to 2 RCR as the Regimental Sergeant Major where he remained until 2006 when he was posted to Land Forces Doctrine and Training Systems (LFDTS), CFB Kingston ON as the Non-Commissioned Member Professional Development CWO for the Army. He has since been posted to CFB Halifax NS where he is presently the Land Forces Atlantic Area CWO.
CWO Hornbrook was appointed a Member of the Order of Military Merit (MMM) on 21 September 2006.
CWO Hornbrook has served four tours on deployed Operations; one in Cyprus, two in The Former Republic of Yugoslavia and finally as the Task Force RSM on OP HALO in Haiti.
CWO Hornbrook and his wife Sue have two daughters, one son, a son-in-law and two grandchildren. CWO Hornbrook enjoys both golfing and fishing but most of all, spending time with his family.