1. AFTER OVER 36 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, COLONEL BRIAN IRWIN WILL RETIRE FROM THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES ON 26 JUNE, 2020.
2. COLONEL IRWIN BEGAN HIS MILITARY SERVICE IN 1983 AS A MEMBER OF THE PRIMARY RESERVE FIELD ENGINEER SQUADRON IN HIS HOME TOWN OF OTTAWA. THE FOLLOWING YEAR HE TRANSFERRED TO THE REGULAR FORCE WHERE HE COMPLETED POST-SECONDARY STUDIES AT ROYAL ROADS MILITARY COLLEGE AND THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA, GRADUATING IN 1988 WITH A DEGREE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING. COMMISSIONED AS AN ARMY ENGINEER, COLONEL IRWIN SERVED WITH BOTH 2 COMBAT ENGINEER REGIMENT AND 1 COMBAT ENGINEER REGIMENT WHERE HE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO: LEAD AN AIRBORNE FIELD TROOP, A MECHANIZED FIELD SQUADRON, A SUPPORT SQUADRON, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SQUADRON; SERVE AS A DEPUTY COMMANDING OFFICER (1 C E R ) AND COMMANDED A REGIMENT (2 CER). AS A STAFF OFFICER, COLONEL IRWIN SERVED IN A BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS, WAS THE ENGINEER CAREER MANAGER AND WAS THE JOINT STAFF ENGINEER OPERATIONS OFFICER. AS A SENIOR OFFICER, HE WAS A CHIEF OF STAFF FOR A JOINT TASK FORCE, THE OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS’ TEAM LEAD FOR THE AFGHANISTAN MISSION, THE OPERATIONS ADVISOR AT THE CANADIAN DELEGATION TO NATO, THE DIRECTOR FOR NATO AND EUROPEAN SECURITY POLICY, AND WAS THE
CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE POLICY GROUP IN DEFENCE. MOST RECENTLY, COLONEL IRWIN SERVED AS CANADA’S DEFENCE ATTACHÉ TO UKRAINE. HIS OPERATIONAL TOURS INCLUDE A UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN IRAQ AND KUWAIT (1991), A NATO STABILITY OPERATION IN BOSNIA (1996/97), AND THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN (2006/07). COLONEL IRWIN HAS A MASTERS IN DEFENCE STUDIES AND HAS BEEN AWARDED A MERITORIOUS SERVICE CROSS.
3. UPON RETIREMENT, BRIAN PLANS TO REMAIN IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE SHARON – WHO HAS BEEN HIS PARTNER FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS - AND NEAR TO THEIR SONS ROBERT AND JONATHAN.
4. WHEN “SOCIAL DISTANCING” IS NO LONGER A REQUIREMENT, BRIAN PLANS TO HOST FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES FOR A DRINK AND TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE HELPED MADE HIS CAREER SO REWARDING.