Captain Catherine MacDonald will be releasing from the Regular Forces in July 2009 after 12 years of service to the CF and CME. Born and raised in Antigonish, NS, she joined the CF in June 1997 as an Engineer.

She completed her Basic Officer Training Course in St-Jean that summer, and then moved on to Royal Military College in Kingston in the fall of 1997. She spent four years there earning her degree in Civil Engineering and swimming laps in the pool as a member of the swim team. She rounded out her summers doing language training and phase training. Freshly graduated and commissioned to the rank of 2nd Lt in May 2001, she spent another year finishing up phase training at CFSME in Gagetown.

Captain MacDonald then remained in Gagetown for another four years (2002-2006). Posted to 4 ESR after Phase IV, by now promoted to Lieutenant, she was the Troop Commander of 22 Field Troop. She also deployed to Afghanistan (Kabul) with the ILDS crew in 2004 as an augmentee with 52 Esc de Genie (5 RGC), during which time she was promoted to her current rank of Captain. Upon her return from Afghanistan in Aug 2004, she was posted to CFSME as Gap Crossing and Survivability Troop Commander. Some of her most rewarding experiences during this time were as a course officer for two QL3 courses.

Her final posting began in 2006 at CEFCOM HQ in Ottawa, as J Engr Ops 2. After spending a couple of years supporting expeditionary operations, she was fortunate to have the chance to go on another tour, this time with the UN in Sudan as a military observer (2008-9).

Unfortunately for the Engineers and the CF, she got bit by the Africa bug (and not the malaria carrying kind) and her time in Sudan instilled a desire to return on a more permanent basis. She is currently looking for work in the region as a civilian with the UN or with an IO/NGO, however she is also keeping other options open as well.

Captain MacDonald will be remaining in the Ottawa region in the short term with hopes of shortly moving on to Khartoum or Nairobi.

Anecdotes and best wishes can be sent to Capt Dave Holsworth (david.holsworth@forces.gc.ca) at 613-992-7767.