1. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL IAN BARNES WILL RELEASE FROM THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES ON 28 AUGUST 2020, AFTER 25 PLUS YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO CANADA.

2. LCOL BARNES JOINED THE CAF IN 1995 AND GRADUATED FROM THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA IN 1999 WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN CHEMICAL AND MATERIAL ENGINEERING. FOLLOWING HIS SIGNALS OFFICER TRAINING AT THE CANADIAN FORCES SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AND ELECTRONICS (CFSCE), HE WAS POSTED TO 2 CANADIAN MECHANIZED BRIGADE GROUP (2 CMBG) WHERE HE SERVED IN 2 CMBG HEADQUARTERS AND SIGNAL SQUADRON, THE 2ND REGIMENT ROYAL CANADIAN HORSE ARTILLERY, AND WITH THE 3RD BATTALION, THE ROYAL CANADIAN REGIMENT. IN 2004 HE RETURNED TO THE CFSCE AS AN INSTRUCTOR AND OPERATIONS OFFICER BEFORE BEING PROMOTED AND HEADING TO THE CANADIAN FORCES JOINT SIGNAL REGIMENT (CFJSR) AS OFFICER COMMANDING (OC) 3 SQUADRON. IN 2009, HE WAS FORTUNATE TO RETURN TO CFSCE TO COMMAND 1 SQUADRON. IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING HE COMPLETED THE AUSTRALIAN SIGNAL CORPS’ REGIMENTAL OFFICERS’ ADVANCED COURSE AND THE USMC UNIVERSITY COMMAND AND STAFF COURSE. IN 2013 HE WAS POSTED TO CANADIAN ARMY HQ WHERE HE WORKED AS THE G6 CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT AND IN 2014 HE WAS SELECTED AS THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE CANADIAN JOINT OPERATIONS COMMAND AND SUBSEQUENTLY AS THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE SECRETARIAT AND THE CHIEF OF STAFF READINESS COORDINATOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. HIS CURRENT AND FINAL POSTING WAS TO THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY STAFF AT NATO HEADQUARTERS WHERE HE WORKS AS THE HEAD OF OPERATIONS, REQUIREMENTS, AND PLANNING BRANCH IN THE CONSULTATION, COMMAND AND CONTROL STAFF, IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

3. THE HIGHLIGHTS OF HIS CAREER INCLUDE HIS TWO DEPLOYMENTS TO AFGHANISTAN AS THE BATTALION GROUP SIGNAL OFFICER ON OP ATHENA ROTO 0 (AND MEETING HIS FUTURE WIFE ON HLTA) AND AS THE COMMANDING OFFICER AND SENIOR MENTOR OF THE FIVE-NATION, ANA SIGNAL SCHOOL ADVISORY TEAM ON OP ATTENTION ROTO. HE WAS ALSO PRIVILEGED TO BE THE OC OF THE THEATRE ACTIVATION SQUADRON WHILE AT THE CFJSR AND REPRESENT CANADA INTERNATIONALLY AS A MEMBER OF THE CISM X-COUNTRY RUNNING TEAM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

4. LCOL BARNES WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE SOLDIERS, LEADERS, AND CIVILIAN MEMBERS WHO TOOK THE TIME TO MENTOR AND SUPPORT HIM THROUGH OUT HIS CAREER. IT IS BECAUSE OF THEM THAT HE HAS NEVER WORKED IN A UNIT OR POSITION THAT HE DID NOT ENJOY. THE VALUABLE ADVICE AND EXPERIENCE GAINED WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN AND WILL HELP HIM IMMENSELY AS HE TRANSITIONS INTO HIS SECOND CAREER.

5. LCOL BARNES WILL RELEASE IN EUROPE, WHERE HE PLANS TO STAY AND WORK, WITH HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE (SINA) AND HIS KIDS (FINYA, TIM, AND MAYA) TO UNDERTAKE NEW CHALLENGES WITH NATO AS A NATO INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN.

6. A LOW-KEY DEPART WITH DIGNITY WILL BE HELD IN THE AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2020 TIMEFRAME IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM. IAN KNOWS THAT NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THE TRIP ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OR EVEN BE AUTHORIZED TO DO SO UNLESS IT IS UNDER THE GUISE OF A VERY SHADY TD TRIP TO NATO HQ. AS SUCH, DETAILS OF THE EVENT WILL BE PROMULGATED LOCALLY. HOWEVER, IF ANYONE IN CANADA WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND AND/OR WANTS TO EXERCISE THEIR RESILIENCE AGAINST COVID-19 VIA INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, PLEASE CONTACT MAJOR J.P. LAPOINTE.

7. ANECDOTES, STORIES, CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES, AND ANY PICTURES, ARE WELCOME. PLEASE SENT BY EMAIL TO MAJ J.P. LAPOINTE AT [email protected].