After more than 37 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, Col J.R.M. Dufour, CD will retire on 26 November 2026.
Departure with Dignity (DWD)
A DWD reception will be held on 27 November 2026, from 13:00 to 17:00 hrs (presentations at 1330 hrs) at The Warrant Officers' & Sergeants' Mess (4 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Ottawa, ON). Those interested in attending should RSVP at DWD.COL.Dufour2026@gmail.com. Those wishing to convey their congratulations, best wishes, or anecdotes are also invited to forward them to the same address.
Colonel Martin Dufour joined the military in 1989 as a young engineering student following a chance encounter with a very persistent recruiting officer- a man who promised him a fully paid education in exchange for a mere three years of service. Little did Martin know that those three years would turn into 37, taking him around the world, tearing things down and blowing things up- mostly on purpose. We think it’s safe to say that Canada got its money’s worth.
After graduating from École Polytechnique de Montréal, he served as an Aerospace Engineer with 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron and as an instructor at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering. In 1999, he transitioned to the Canadian Army as a Combat Engineer, and occupied various positions within 5 Combat Engineer Regiment, which included a deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
His career later shifted toward specialized strategic operations, beginning with a posting in Washington, D.C. where he developed Counter-IED capabilities and deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon returning to Canada, Colonel Dufour joined the Canadian Special Forces community, serving in key leadership roles including Commanding Officer of the Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit (CJIRU) and Director SOF Requirements.
Following his promotion to Colonel, he oversaw global sustainment activities as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Support at Canadian Joint Operations Command. His final years of service took him back to the international stage, serving as Chief Engineer for NATO Land Forces in Turkey and concluding his career as the Canadian Liaison Officer at US European Command in Germany.
As he turns the page on this chapter, Colonel Dufour would like to thank his wife and family for their constant support along the way, throughout 15 relocations, 3 deployments and one hell of a ride. He also shares his heartfelt thanks with the incredible colleagues and friends he had the privilege to serve alongside over the last 37 years. Looking ahead, he is excited to begin his next chapter, having accepted a position with DND to help upgrade and modernize critical EOD equipment.