BRIGADIER-GENERAL G.R. STAFFORD, OMM, CD

DEPUTY COMMANDER
LAND FORCE DOCTRINE AND TRAINING SYSTEM

1970, Brigadier-General Stafford joined The Royal Regiment of Canada as a Private and progressed to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer in 1983. He held the position of Regimental Sergeant Major from 1983 to 1987.

In 1988, Brigadier-General Stafford commissioned from the ranks, promoted to Captain and posted to Toronto Militia District Headquarters as the Recruiting Officer for one year. He returned to The Royal Regiment of Canada where, in 1992, he was promoted to Major and appointed as a company commander with the Third Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. This was a combined unit called a 10/90 battalion composed of 10 percent Regular and 90 percent Reserve Force soldiers.

Brigadier-General Stafford deployed with the NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1998 as a Factions Liaison Officer attached to British-led Multi-National Division Southwest Headquarters in Banja Luka.

In 1999, he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer of The Royal Regiment of Canada. In March 2000, he commanded the composite infantry battalion at Exercise SOUTHERN DRIVE during the annual spring training exercise held at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He also commanded one of two light infantry battalions at Exercise STEADFAST WARRIOR in August 2000.

After 32 years service with The Royal Regiment of Canada, Brigadier-General Stafford relinquished command and was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff of 32 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters. During the summer of 2002, he commanded the Area Training Center at CFB Petawawa. He was appointed 32 Canadian Brigade Group’s Deputy Commander in November 2002. In September 2003, he was promoted to Colonel and appointed Commander.

In April 2006 he relinquished command of 32 CBG and deployed to Afghanistan as part of the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan. He served in both Kabul and the southern region as the Regional Police Advisor- South. In August 2007 he was appointed Deputy Commander Land Forces Central Area and promoted to Brigadier-General shortly there after. On 21 April 2009, BGen Stafford was appointed Deputy Commander Land Force Doctrine and Training System.