After more than 42 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, Capt D.D. McPhee, CD, will retire on 15 May 2026. A DwD reception will be held at the Oromocto Pizza Delight Bunker on 1 May 2026 at 1300hrs. If attending, please RSVP to MWO M.W. Allen: mathew.allen@forces.gc.ca. Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to the same person.
Capt Dan McPhee joined the military on 17 October 1983 as a reserve Combat Engineer with 45 Field Engineer Squadron in Sydney N.S., as a way to make a few extra bucks while attending university. Over the next several years, he progressed through the reserve ranks, eventually reaching the rank of Sgt. In 1989, he deployed to Pakistan on OP DECIMAL, which led to his decision to leave university and join the Regular Force.
Sgt McPhee component transferred to the Regular Force on 29 June 1990 and was posted to 4 Combat Engineer Regiment in Lahr, Germany, with a mandatory reduction to Corporal. Cpl McPhee proceeded to buy a Porsche 924 and made the most of his three years in Europe. He deployed to Croatia before being posted back to the newly formed 4 Engineer Support Regiment in Gagetown in the summer of 1993. In 1994, Cpl McPhee completed back-to-back tours in Croatia and Rwanda.
Cpl McPhee completed the Combat Leaders Course in 1995. Later that year he met his future wife, Victoria. He then deployed to Haiti in 1997, and Dan and Vicki were married during his mid-tour leave. He was promoted to MCpl in 1998 and deployed to Bosnia in 1999. He completed QL6A in 2000 and was promoted to Sgt later that year. In December 2000, he deployed again to Ethiopia/ Eritrea. As they now had three children, Sgt McPhee asked for a posting to CFSME in 2001.
While at CFSME Sgt McPhee was employed as a Mine Warfare and Demolitions instructor for 3 years, then spent three years in CFSME’s Distance Learning Cell. A 4th child arrived in 2003. After completing QL6B in 2006, he was promoted WO in 2007 and posted to 2 CER in Petawawa. While at 2 CER WO McPhee deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 as Ops WO for the Counter-IED squadron. WO McPhee was posted back to Gagetown in 2011 and was posted to the Infantry School as the Engineer Subject Matter Expert in the Urban Operations cell. This required him to complete the Urban Operations Instructor course at the age of 44, which is as much fun as it sounds. In 2014, he was posted to 5 CDSG Ops Services Branch as the Garrison Sergeant-Major. He was promoted to MWO in January of 2015. MWO McPhee was posted back to 4 Engineer Support Regiment in 2015 where he served for 3 years as SSM of 43 Counter Explosive Threat Sqn.
In 2018, MWO McPhee was posted to CTC HQ G7 Cell as a QSTP manager. While employed at CTCHQ he accepted a commission from the ranks and was promoted Captain in 2021. In 2023 Capt McPhee was posted to CFSME as the Fd Engr Standards Officer. In 2024 he was posted back to CTC HQ G7 Cell as a QS manager and remained in that job until his upcoming retirement.
Dan and Victoria have 4 children: Crystal, Robbie, Chloe and Hannah. Dan and Vicki also have 4 Grandchildren: Teddy, Rosie, Sadie and Benjy. Dan is retiring on 15 May and intends to remain in the Oromocto area. He will be employed at CFSME as a contractor working on doctrine and QSTP development. Capt McPhee will be celebrating his retirement with a Depart with Dignity ceremony at the Oromocto Pizza Delight Bunker on 1 May 2026 at 1300hrs.