Image on the left: Vice-Admiral Auchterlonie presented LCol Esselaar with the NATO MSM, and was joined by CJOC Command CWO, CWO Sullivan, and LCol Esselaar’s wife, Kim Esselaar

Image on the Right: BGen Parsons represented the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals and the Communications and Electronics Branch in support of LCol Esselaar’s award

On 13 Sep 2023, Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command, Vice-Admiral Auchterlonie presented Lieutenant-Colonel (LCol) Esselaar with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Meritorious Service Medal (NATO MSM). The MSM is NATO’s highest honour for distinguished service, and this NATO MSM was awarded by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for LCol Esselaar’s work in support of the NATO Cyber Adaptation Task Force in 2020 and 2021. At the height of the COVID pandemic LCol Esselaar was selected to represent the NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency in the NATO Cyber Adaptation Task Force in order to bring much-needed improvements to NATO cyber defence. His professionalism, outstanding energy and leadership was quickly noticed and soon LCol Esselaar was appointed as the Chief of Staff for the NATO Cyber Adaptation Task Force. Through his extraordinary efforts LCol Esselaar has not only made invaluable contributions to this NATO-level mission, but has been a superb ambassador for the NCI Agency and Canada.