Senior Serving Artillery Officers
Colonel R.R. Poirier, CD

Colonel Robert Poirier began his military service in 1971 with the Primary Reserve, enrolling in 116 Independent Field Battery. In 1974 he joined the Regular Force, and attended Royal Roads and Royal Military Colleges, graduating with an Honours History Baccalaureate and was commissioned as a Field Artillery officer in 1978. Posted to the Third Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, he served three years in various regimental positions.

From 1983-1985 Lieutenant-Colonel Poirier, now a Captain, served as a unit Regular Support Staff Officer. He was then posted to the Artillery School, Gagetown, as a student on the Air Defence Instructor-in-Gunnery course, graduating in 1984. The following year he was course officer for the AIG course.

There followed a posting to Baden-Soellingen, West Germany, as Commanding Officer of 128 Airfield Air Defence Battery, a position he held until 1988. In 1987 he attended the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff Course in Kingston.

In 1988, now a Major, he was posted to Mobile Command Headquarters, St. Hubert, where he worked in Training Division for three years. Following this came a move to the Air Defence Artillery School in Chatham, New Brunswick, as Chief Instructor-in-Gunnery.

In 1994 Colonel Poirier attended the British Army Command and Staff Course, in Camberley, United Kingdom. On his return to Canada in 1995, he went to the Directorate of Land Requirements at National Defence Headquarters, where he held the jobs of desk officer, mortars, and capital equipment program coordinator. While working in Ottawa, he obtained a certificate in Defence Resource Management in Monterey, California, and a Masters Degree in History from the Royal Military College.

In 1999, moved west to 38 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters in Winnipeg, where he held the positions of G3 and Chief of Staff. In 2002 he became the Land Forces Western Area domestic operations officer. In 2002-2003 he was the chief of staff of Task Force Bosnia-Herzegovina, in Velike Kladusa, Bosnia.

Upon returning to Canada in 2003, Colonel Poirier transferred to the Primary Reserve. He assumed the duties of special projects officer, with 38 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters until his promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel in May, 2004, and appointment as the Brigade Deputy Commander. In May 2005, he assumed command of the 38 Brigade Artillery Tactical Group – 10 Field Regiment, Regina; 26 Field Regiment, Brandon; and 116 Independent Field Battery, Kenora. Upon relinquishing command of the Group on 17 December 2006, he was employed on special projects at Brigade Headquarters.

On March 10, 2007 Colonel Poirier was promoted to his current rank and took command of 38 Canadian Brigade Group.

With his transfer to the Army Reseve, Colonel Poirier began civil employment as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Rural Municipality of St. Clements, near Winnipeg. He is currently the project director of a regional infrastructure group in the lower Red River Valley. In free moments, he is an avid cyclist and amateur historian.