Brig. Gen. Robert W. McBride

Brigadier General McBride attended the Royal Military College of Canada from 1993 to 1997 earning a degree in Military and Strategic Studies.  Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an Infantry officer joining The First Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (1 RCR) where he commanded a rifle platoon, mortar platoon and completed his first tour in the battalion as the second in command of both a rifle company and administration company. He was then posted to the Division Training Centre in Meaford, Ontario serving as the unit Adjutant for two years. Promoted to the rank of Major, Brig. Gen. McBride was then posted to the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) from 2006 to 2009 where he served as the Battalion Operations Officer, commanded combat support company and a rifle company. Then had the opportunity to deploy to Afghanistan as a combat team commander from August 2008 to April 2009.
 
Upon completion of his deployment to Afghanistan, Brig. Gen. McBride attended the Joint Command and Staff Program in Toronto where he earned a Master’s in Defence Studies.  Subsequently, he was selected as the unit Chief of Staff and Officer Commanding Operations Squadron with Joint Task Force 2, Canada’s Tier 1 SOF unit, where he served for three years, after which he was selected to command 3 RCR, his Regiment’s light infantry battalion. Upon completing two years as the unit Commanding Officer, Brig. Gen. McBride was posted to the Canadian Army HQ, first serving as Director Army Staff 2, responsible for the Canadian Army Business Planning.  Upon promotion to Colonel in 2018, he was appointed Director Army Staff where he was responsible for coordinating activities across the Army HQ to include international engagements with Allies.  Following his time at Army HQ, Brig. Gen. McBride attended the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and completed a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies.  Recently, Brig. Gen. McBride commanded the 3rd Canadian Division Support Group in Edmonton, Alberta.
 
Operationally, Brigadier General McBride has completed five deployments, which include Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
 
Brigadier General McBride has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for leading his team during combat and counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan, the Chief of Defence Staff Commendation for his time with Joint Task Force-Iraq and most recently was appointed to the Order of Military Merit.
 
He is married to Samantha and has two children, Mackenzie and Oliver, and enjoys most sports.