After more than 28 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, LCol Robert Knapik, CD, (00181) has retired on 9 September 2025. A DwD reception will be held on 02 October 2025. If attending, please RSVP to Maj Hamelin: alexandre.hamelin@forces.gc.ca. Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to the same person.
Lieutenant-Colonel Rob Knapik joined the Canadian Army in November 1992 as a Reservist with 8 Field Engineer Regiment in Edmonton. While completing his university studies, he trained as an engineer during the summers.
In October 1996, he transferred to the Regular Force and, after completing his engineer training, was posted to 4 Engineer Support Regiment (4 ESR) in Gagetown. There he commanded 22 Field Troop and deployed on Operations ASSISTANCE, RECUPERATION, and MARCOT. Promoted to Captain in 1998, he commanded 25 Support Troop on Operation PALLADIUM Roto 3.
In 2000, he was posted to CFB Suffield as Works Officer. In June 2002, he joined 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER) as Second-in-Command (2IC) of 12 Field Squadron on Operation GRIZZLY, and in 2003 he deployed as 2IC of 11 Field Squadron on Operation PALLADIUM Roto 11. In 2004, he was posted to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME) in Gagetown, where he served as Adjutant and Operations Officer.
At the end of 2006, LCol Knapik returned to CFB Suffield as Requirements Officer and was promoted to Major in 2007. Remaining at Suffield, he later assumed the position of Base Construction Engineering Officer. In 2009, he attended second-language training at the Canadian Forces Language School in Asticou, QC, before being posted to Army Headquarters in Ottawa as DLI 2 within the Directorate of Land Infrastructure.
In 2013, he was posted to 1 Engineer Support Unit (1 ESU) as Deputy Commanding Officer, overseeing the unit’s transition from Moncton, NB to Kingston, ON. Promoted to Lieutenant- Colonel in 2014, he returned to Ottawa to serve with ADM(IE) and the newly formed Real Property Operations Group as Chief of Staff (North).
In 2016, he assumed command of Real Property Operations Unit (West). Four years later, in 2020, he was posted to Australia as part of J58 International Engagements at the Australian Defence Force’s Headquarters Joint Operations Command in Canberra, where he served as Exercise Planner, Deputy Director, and Acting Director.
Returning to Canada in 2024, he was posted back to RPOps Group as J3 Operations Officer in Ottawa.
After more than 32 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces, LCol Knapik recently retired and has since accepted a position with DNMIPD as a Project Director. He is married to Amy Jesso and they have three children: Julian, Haylee, and MacKenna.