Senior Serving Artillery Officers
Colonel K.R. Cotten, CD

Colonel Kevin Cotten enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1980 as a Reserve Gunner with the 30th Field Regiment (RCA). After graduation from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, he transferred to the Regular Force in 1985, completing consecutive Regimental tours with the 3rd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1985-1988) and 5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada (1988-1990) in the positions of Command Post Officer, Gun Position Officer, Troop Commander, and Battery Captain.

Following attendance at the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College in 1990, Colonel Cotten was posted to the G3 (Operations) staff of Headquarters 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group. Upon promotion to Major in 1993, he had the privilege of commanding D Battery, 2 RCHA.

From 1995 to 1998, Colonel Cotten was assigned to Land Force Central Area Headquarters as the G3 Training, during which time he completed a six month tour in Bosnia-Herzegovina as Chief of Staff of the Canadian Contingent of the NATO Stabilization Force.

Upon graduation from the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in 1999, Colonel Cotten was appointed as the G3 of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in Edmonton, Alberta. In 2000, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and posted to Land Force Western Area Headquarters as the G1 (Personnel).

In 2002, Colonel Cotten was given the honour and privilege of commanding the Second Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. From July 2003 to January 2004, he deployed to Afghanistan on Operation ATHENA with elements of 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, including 190 members of his Regiment. He fulfilled the duties of Fire Support Advisor to Commander Kabul Multi-National Brigade, as well as the appointment of Commanding Officer Canadian Brigade Troops.

In 2004, Colonel Cotten was promoted to his current rank to take command of Canadian Forces Recruiting Group. From January to June 2007, he attended the National Security Studies Programme at the Canadian Forces College. In July 2007, he was appointed Army Adviser, Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (London).