On 2 June, Base Borden’s Administration Services Branch held a ceremony commemorating a Change of Command and Change of Appointment.
The ceremony saw Lieutenant-Colonel Natalie Cathcart assume the duties of Commanding Officer Administration Services from Lieutenant-Colonel Steve Brown.
“To the Administration Services Unit, it has been my great honour to serve with you,” said departing LCol Brown. “This is a complex and complicated unit… And yet what it produces is absolutely essential in allowing our soldiers the ability to focus on training so they can be deployed in dangerous regions around the globe. What we do is important. What you do is important.”
LCol Cathcart is a graduate of the Canadian Army Command and Staff College and the Joint Command and Staff Programme at the Canadian Forces College and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology and Psychology from St. Thomas University, and a Masters of Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada. She was the Deputy Commanding Officer for Op IMPACT in Kuwait in 2014 and the Commanding Officer for the Humanitarian Operation Task Force Support Element following the Nepal earthquake in 2015. LCol Cathcart also complete and overseas NATO posting with the Allied Air Command.
“I thank [LCol Brown] for your leadership that both you and Chief Warrant Officer Lamontagne showed during this difficult and challenging time,” said LCol Cathcart, going on to thank the unit for all the work that went into ensuring a smooth transition.
The ceremony also saw Chief Warrant Officer D.W.L. Thomas assume the role of Administration Services CWO from Chief Warrant Officer Luc Lamontagne.
Having held the position of Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) for the Administration Branch since February 2018, CWO Lamontagne thanked the branch staff for the great work they continue to do day in and day out.
“I’m honoured to be appointed the new RSM for the Admin Branch,” said CWO Thomas, who first joined the Primary Reserves in 1996 before transferring to the Regular Forces in September 2001 as a Resource Management Support Clerk. Most recently, CWO Thomas was posted to ADM(Fin) with the Director of Financial Operations. His career deployments include Bosnia in 2002 and Afghanistan in 2006.
“This is the culmination of a long career and I’m very, very honoured to be here,” said CWO Thomas.
Departing LCol Brown and CWO Lamontagne both received Commander’s Coins and standing ovations for their service with the Administration Branch at Base Borden. LCol Brown was wished the best with his posting with NATO in Lithuania and CWO Lamontagne was congratulated on his retirement.
By: Emily Nakeff, Editor
