BGen (Ret'd) M.A. Matheson, MSM, CD

While attending Carleton University in Ottawa, BGen Mark Matheson enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1977 with the Governor General's Foot Guards (GGFG).  Besides qualifying as an Infantry officer at the Combat Training Centre in CFB Gagetown, he also completed two tours with the Changing the Guard on Parliament Hill during his time with the regiment.

Completing a Bachelor of Arts (History) degree in 1980, he transferred both to the Regular Force and the Air Force.  As a Logistics – Air Transportation officer, BGen Matheson served at the tactical, operational and strategic levels.  Initial tours as a Base Transportation Officer (Gander NL) and as an Air Movements Officer (at 3 Air Movements Unit (AMU) Ottawa & 1 AMU Edmonton) were followed by a staff tour at Air Command Headquarters (HQ) Winnipeg.  Appointed to command 2 AMU Trenton in 1990, he led the unit throughout the first Gulf War for which it received the Canadian Forces Unit Commendation. Following that, headquarters assignments (including Air Transport Group HQs Trenton, 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region HQs Winnipeg (twice!), Canada Command and National Defence HQs Ottawa were interspersed with further command appointments.  As a LCol, he served as the Wing Logistics Officer at 14 Wing Greenwood, NS and, as a Colonel, as the Wing Commander of 5 Wing, Goose Bay Labrador.  Promoted to BGen in July 2011, he served on the Strategic Joint Staff as the Director General Plans (J5) and as Co-Chair of the CA-US Military Cooperation Committee (MCC) before his last assignment as Director General Compensation & Benefits.   

As an “Air Mover” and qualified CC-130 loadmaster, BGen Matheson deployed frequently throughout his career.  Highlights include duties as the Canadian National Command Element Chief of Logistics (J4) at U.S. Central Command HQs during the initial stages of the war on terrorism (Op Apollo) and as the Director of Staff for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, Afghanistan.

A graduate of the Canadian Forces Command & Staff College, BGen Matheson has a Master of Arts degree in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School at the United States' National Defense University.

Failing retirement only six months after leaving the military, in Jan 2017 he became the Materiel Support System Manager with AirPro SAR Services where he helped deliver the new CC295 Kingfisher Search & Rescue aircraft to the RCAF.  Fully retired since July 2021, he swears that this time it’s going to stick!  In addition to fitness activities & volunteer work, Mark enjoys wrangling three grandchildren.