D. Craig Aitchison
| D. Craig Aitchison, CD | |
|---|---|
| Born |
June 4, 1968 London, Ontario |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Commander, Combat Training Centre - Infantry Officer Canadian Forces |
Colonel D. Craig Aitchison is a Canadian military officer, who is currently serving as the Commander, Combat Training Centre for the Canadian Forces.[1] He is the former Director of Army Staff and Director of Infantry for the Canadian Forces. He is also the former Commandant of the Infantry School.[2] Col. Aitchison holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick. a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies from the Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Forces College, as well as a Master’s Degree in Military Art and Science from the United States Army School of Advanced Military Studies.[2]
Life
Colonel D. Craig Aitchison was born on June 4, 1968, to W. J. Aitchison and Elva Aitchison. Aitchison is the second of three sons to W.J. and Elva. His older brother, Warrant Officer Alan Aitchison, CD, is also a currently serving member of the Canadian Forces. His father, W.J. Aitchison, is a retired Colonel, and the former Colonel of the Regiment for the Royal Canadian Regiment
Aitchison joined the Canadian Forces Reserves in January 1985 with the Royal New Brunswick Regiment. He transferred into the Regular Force in 1987 through the Regular Officer Training Plan, while attending University of New Brunswick.[2]
Colonel Craig Aitchison has two children, Justin and Kayla. He is married to his wife, Sally. He currently resides with wife in Gagetown, New Brunswick.
Military career
Colonel Aitchison joined the Canadian Forces (Reserve) in January 1985 and transferred to the Regular Force (ROTP) in 1987. He attended the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton and graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. On completion of Infantry Phase IV training, he was posted to 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2 RCR). He served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Battalion Intelligence Officer and Assistant Adjutant. He deployed to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) as Intelligence Officer on Operation CAVALIER Roto 0.[2]
Col Aitchison was posted to the Canadian Forces Officer Candidate School in Chilliwack, BC, in 1994 and served two years as a Platoon Commander and Company Second-in-Command. He moved with the School, which had been redesignated the CF Leadership and Recruit School, where he served as a Company Commander.[2]
Posted to 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment in 1997, he filled a variety of posts before leaving as the Adjutant in 2001. While serving with 3 RCR he deployed twice on operations to the FRY in 1998 – 99 (Operation PALLADIUM Roto 3) and 2001 (Operation PALLADIUM Roto 8). He attended the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College in 2001, following which he was posted to the Tactics School at CFB Gagetown as the School Operations Officer.[2]
Promoted Major in 2002 while at the Tactics School, he was posted to 2 RCR as the Officer Commanding Golf Company and subsequently as the Operations Officer. He left 2 RCR in 2005 to assume a position as a desk officer in the Directorate of Land Force Development. After two years on the Land Staff, Col Aitchison was selected for and attended the Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Forces College where he earned a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies.[2]
Following Staff College, Col Aitchison deployed to Afghanistan (Operation ATHENA Roto 6) for nine months as the CJ3 (Current Operations) at HQ Regional Command (South) in Kandahar. On repatriation he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed to command the Infantry School.[2]
On completing command of the School in 2011, Col Aitchison was posted to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to attend the year-long Advance Operational Art Studies Fellowship at the United States Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) where he earned a Master’s Degree in Military Art and Science. He spent the following year on the faculty of SAMS as a seminar leader helping teach majors operational planning.[2]
Promoted Colonel in May 2013, he is posted to the Army Staff in Ottawa as Director Army Staff and Director of Infantry.[2]
In July 2015, Colonel Aitchison was posted to Gagetown New Brunswick as the Commander, Combat Training Centre.