After more than 33 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineers, MWO Marco Lacroix, CD, will retire on 14 June 2021. Due to the current situation, a Depart with Dignity ceremony will be planned once restrictions have been lifted. Congratulatory messages, anecdotes and best wishes can be sent to MWO W.S. Singer at William.Singer@forces.gc.ca.
MWO Lacroix was born in Sherbrooke, QC. He joined the Primary Reserve, serving with the Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke as an infantryman from March 1988 to September 1989. After moving north, he transferred to the 9 e Escadron de Génie de Campagne in Rouyn-Noranda, QC. MWO Lacroix changed occupations from Infantry (R031) to proudly become a Field Engineer (R041).
As a reservist, MWO Lacroix completed the Explosive Ordnance Disposal - Basic (HA) course in 1992. In 1993, after moving to Québec City, he transferred to the 10e Escadron de Génie de Campagne. During the summer of 1994, he worked for SNC Lavalin as a UXO decontamination specialist.
Through a program for direct entry, he transferred from the P Res to the Reg F as a Combat Engineer in the fall of 1994. He served with the 5 e Régiment de Génie de Combat from August 1994 to July 2001. MWO Lacroix deployed to Bosnia on Operation Cavalier Roto 5 with the Groupement Tactique du 3e R22R. He served as a section member with the secondary duty of EOD operator for the section. During that time, he filled the positions of troop storesman, section 2 I/C, section HQ I/C, and field section commander.
MWO Lacroix completed the Explosive Ordnance Disposal - Advanced (HB) course in the fall of 2000. The following spring, he was posted to 4 Airfield Engineering Squadron in Cold Lake, AB, as a detachment commander with 47 EOD Flight. In the spring of 2002, MWO Lacroix assumed to the position of EOD Recce Sgt. In 2004, he was posted to 1 CER in Edmonton and deployed on Operation Athena as an EOD/IEDD detachment commander, where he received the Task Force Commander’s Commendation for his role in making the country safer. In 2007, he was posted to 4 AES / 47 EOD for a second time with the sole purpose of closing the EOD flight. Since the Germany era, the Army had always been present while conducting airfield post-attack recovery. This closure was a great loss as it ended that presence.
In 2009, MWO Lacroix was posted to the Canadian Force School of Military Engineer (CFSME) as the instructor of the improvised EOD squadron. He was promoted to the rank of WO in July 2010 and assumed the position of Standards Cell representative for EOD squadron instruction. In July 2014, MWO Lacroix was posted to ADM(Mat) under DCSEM-9 as the EOD-IEDD Advisor, assisting a project team. In February 2017, MWO Lacroix was posted to DLR as DPD and Trial coordinator for the WOLF Project. He was promoted to the rank of MWO in February 2018 and posted to 2 CER as 25 Support Squadron Sergeant Major. In the summer of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, MWO Lacroix was posted to CADTC HQ, Future Equipment Integration and Training.
Upon his retirement, MWO Lacroix will jump to the public service as a LCMM with ADM(MAT) in Ottawa. MWO Lacroix has been married to Lorie Ann DesRoches since 1996 and they have twin daughters, Arianna and Danica.