Deputy Commander - Canada Command

Brigadier-General JPPJ Lacroix, MSC, CD

Brigadier-General Jocelyn Lacroix enrolled in the Canadian Forces with the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC). He was commissioned as an officer in August 1979 and joined the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada (12 RBC) at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier.

With that unit he commanded at all ranks, including Lieutenant-Colonel when he served as unit Commanding Officer from June 1995 to December 1997. Overseas, he headed the forward element of C Squadron of the Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD) in Lahr, Germany, from 1983 to 1984 and a squadron in Cyprus from August 1990 to March 1991 with 12 RBC. From July 1999 to June 2002, Brigadier-General Lacroix commanded the Cadet Wing of Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston as Director of Cadets. Back in Valcartier, he later commanded 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group between July 5, 2002, and September 2, 2004. During this period, he headed to Afghanistan and took the reins of the Kabul Multinational Brigade, Rotation 1 for Operation ATHENA, and for his actions during this mission, BGen Lacroix later received in April 2006, the Meritorious Service Cross (MSC). From August 2005 to May 2007 BGen Lacroix commanded the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston.

Between stints in command, Brigadier-General Lacroix has occupied several staff officer and instructor positions, including Battle Captain at 12 RBC; Armour School (AS) Instructor in Gagetown; Squadron Second-in-Command with 12 RBC, RCD, and AS; Operations Officer for his Regiment; Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commander Land Force Command in Saint-Hubert; and Chief of Staff at New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island District Headquarters in Moncton, New Brunswick. From February 2007 until May 2009, BGen Lacroix was the Chief of Staff, Canada Command.

Brigadier-General Lacroix graduated from the Land Force Command and Staff Course at Kingston in 1987, the Canadian Forces Command and Staff Course at Toronto in 1992, the Advanced Military Studies Course at Toronto in 2001 and the National Strategic Studies Course also in Toronto, in 2005. He obtained his Bachelor of Military Arts and Science degree at Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston in October 1999. Between September and December 2004, Brigadier-General Lacroix began superior studies at l’École nationale d'administration publique du Quebec.

BGen Lacroix was appointed Deputy Commander, Canada Command in May 2009.