Unit Appointments - Commanding Officer
15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
Major J.D. Barrett, CD

Major James Barrett was born in Vancouver, BC, in 1956, where he completed High School in 1974, a two-year college diploma in 1976, and a Batchelor of Education (Secondary) Degree at the University of British Columbia in 1979. Major Barrett enrolled in the Primary Reserves in 1982 as a Private Soldier in The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own) RCAC, where he completed his Basic and Recruit training and served as a Trooper.

He was commissioned in the Fall of 1982 as a Second-Lieutenant, and for the next twenty two years served that Regiment in all capacities from Troop Officer, Recruiting Officer, Course Officer, Quartermaster, Technical Adjutant, Adjutant, to Squadron Commander and Deputy Commanding Officer. During this period, Major Barrett served in Europe in 1984 with 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (4 CMBG) as a Reconnaissance Umpire for the NATO FALLEX’s, EX SOLAR PASSAGE and EX FLINKER IGLE, the latter being a Corps level exercise. He served on temporary duty in the fall of 1986 as a Troop Officer with A Squadron, Lord Strathcona Horse (Royal Canadians) in Calgary. Major Barrett qualified as a Combat Team Commander in 1991 in Suffield, Alberta, and commanded A Squadron British Columbia Regiment, between 1994 and 1996, where his Regiment won the Dunwoody Trophy for being the best armoured unit in western Canada. Promoted Major in 1996, Major Barrett, completed Militia Command and Staff Course at Kingston in 1998. Between 1998 and 2000 he assumed command of 2290 British Columbia Regiment Cadet Corps and returned to regimental duty as Deputy Commanding Officer. Serving as G1 Special Projects Officer for 39 Canadian Brigade Group in the spring of 2005, and the first Domestic Operations Liaison Officer (Lower Mainland) that fall, Major Barrett assumed his current employment as Second-in-Command 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA in 2005. At Exercise Cougar Salvo 2006, he was employed as the OPFOR Company Commander, in command of 79 soldiers from three different brigades, including a section of British Engineers. Most recently he acted as Deputy Commanding Officer to Task Force Cougar as part of 39 Canadian Brigade Group's EX Cougar Salvo 2007.

Major Barrett is also the President of the Vancouver Garrison Officers’ Society which runs the annual military Ball in British Columbia. He assumed command of 15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA on 11 September 2007.

After graduating from the University of British Columbia, Major Barrett was employed as a Teacher by the Vancouver and Coquitlam School Boards, and since, 1985, he has been an auto insurance adjuster with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. In 1998 he was assigned to investigate fraudulent injury claims, working with Special Constables, and his team had been credited with an average savings of $1.5 million annually. He is a qualified Level 2 First Aid attendant, and is trained in Emergency Response Team (ERT) management and has acted at the Incident Commander at annual office ERT exercises.

In 1991 he was awarded a LFWA Commander’s Commendation for life saving, and was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for his volunteer work in East Vancouver.

Major Barrett is married to Lieutenant (Ret's) Patricia Barrett, and has three sons, James, Daniel and Robin, ranging in age from 13 to 20. Major Barrett lives in Vancouver. His hobbies include Military History, making Military Figurines, Wine making, and Lionel Toy Trains. He plays Ice Hockey in the winter, and Cricket in the Summer. He is currently the President of the Arbutus Cricket Club. He is the past Chair of the Group Council for Scouting in East Vancouver, and was awarded the Centennial Medal for Scouting in 2007.