Lieutenant-Colonel Tom P.R. Payne, CD
Acting Deputy Commandant of the Canadian Forces College
Lieutenant-Colonel Tom Payne is the Acting Deputy Commandant of the Canadian Forces College. In April 2026, he completed his tenure as Chief of Staff and Headquarters Commanding Officer of the College and subsequently assumed the duties of Acting Deputy Commandant.
With more than 30 years of leadership experience across military and private-sector organizations, LCol Payne has held a broad range of command, staff, executive leadership, corporate operations, and business development roles. His military service includes command of The Royal Regiment of Canada and senior leadership roles focused on strategic planning, organizational governance, operational excellence, and leadership development.
LCol Payne holds a Master of Science in Management Practice from York University and a Master of Public Administration from the Royal Military College of Canada, and is a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Programme and the Public Executive Program at Queen’s University. He also holds professional certifications in Project Management, Agile Leadership, and Lean Six Sigma.
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