Senior Serving Artillery Officers
Brigadier-General A.J. Howard, CD

The Canadian Army is fortunate to have truly outstanding soldiers who can “go off and get the job done” both internationally and domestically without fail. BGen Al Howard is committed to leading and supporting these soldiers to the best of his ability.

BGen Howard joined the Canadian Forces in 1978, as a Private. Upon the conclusion of one year of Reserve service, with 30th Field Regiment, RCA, in Ottawa, BGen Howard transferred to the Regular Force in 1979. Graduating from the Royal Military College in 1984, BGen Howard was commissioned into the Canadian Army as an artillery officer.

BGen Howard has commanded from the troop to Brigade Group level. Having really joined the Army to pursue a career outdoors, BGen Howard has spent over 17 years either serving on operations or in field units/formations. His international assignments include NATO duty as a member of 4 CMBG, Lahr Germany (1984 - 1988), UN duty both as Battery Commander in Nicosia, Cyprus (1992 - 1993) and G3 Canadian Contingent United Nations Protection Force in the Former Yugoslavia (1994 - 1995), and finally defence liaison duty as the Assistant Canadian Forces Military Attaché in Washington, DC (1996 - 1999). More recently, BGen Howard was appointed Commanding Officer 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1 RCHA) (1999 - 2001) and Commander 2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG) (2004 - 2006). Promoted to his current rank in June 2006 he served as Director General Operations, Strategic Joint Staff at NDHQ until assuming command of Land Forces Central Area – Joint Task Force Central on 8 June 2007.

BGen Howard is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada (BEng – Computers and Masters in Defence Studies), the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College, and the Canadian Forces College (CSC, AMSC, and NSSC). He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the province of Ontario.