Brigadier-General B.W.G. McPherson, CD
Commandant of the Canadian Forces College
Brigadier-General Brian McPherson started his military career as a member of the Princess of Wales Own Regiment, an Infantry Regiment, in 1979 and was later commissioned into the Regular Force as an artillery officer in 1986 and posted to the 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (2RCHA). As a young officer, he served in a variety of positions to include time as an E Bty (Para) gun-line officer, Personal Assistant to the Commander of the Special Service Force, Forward Observation Officer with the Canadian Airborne Regiment and the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Instructor-in-Gunnery in the Royal Canadian Artillery School, and as the Regimental Command Post Officer and Operations Officer of the 2RCHA.
BGen McPherson’s command appointments include: D Troop E Bty (Para), D Battery 2nd Regiment, RCHA, the Canadian Forces Disaster Assistance Response Team, the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery School, Deputy Commander Combat Training Centre and the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College. He has also participated in domestic and expeditionary operations, including Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
His notable staff appointments include: Artillery Desk Officer and later Deputy Director Army Training, Director Canadian Forces Small Arms Competition, Chief of Staff, Land Force Doctrine and Training System, Director Royal Canadian Artillery, J7 Canadian Joint Operations Command, and Exercise Director Joint Exercise 15. Most recently, he served as the Chief of Defence Staff’s Liaison Officer to the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon and, for his service, was awarded the United States Legion of Merit with the Degree of Officer.
BGen McPherson is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada (RMCC), the year-long Artillery Instructor-in-Gunnery Course, the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College, the year-long Land Forces Technical Staff Programme, the Combat Team Commanders Course, the Advanced Peacekeeping Course, Canadian Forces Command and Staff Course 30, and the Royal College of Defence Studies Programme in London, England. He holds parachutist wings from the US Marine Corps, the US Army, and the British Army.
BGen McPherson holds a Bachelor of Military Arts and Science and a Master of Defence Studies from the RMCC, and is working on a Master of Business Administration. He has been awarded a CDS Commendation and several Army Commander Commendations. He enjoys cooking and reading, and is a hockey fanatic. He and Alison are the proud parents of Sarah and Graham.
In June 2018, BGen McPherson assumed command of the Canadian Forces College as Commandant.
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