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Geneviève Bernatchez

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Geneviève Bernatchez
Allegiance Canada
Service / branch Royal Canadian Navy
Years of service1987–2023 (38 years)
Rank Rear admiral
CommandsJudge Advocate General
AwardsOrder of Military Merit
Canadian Forces' Decoration

Geneviève Bernatchez, OMM CD, is a former Canadian Forces officer who has served as the fifteenth judge advocate general (JAG) from June 27, 2017 to June 27, 2023. She held the rank of Rear admiral in the Royal Canadian Navy.[1] She was the first woman to serve as JAG.[2]

Background

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Bernatchez is a native from Gaspé, Québec. She began her military career in 1987, joining the Naval Reserve Division HMCS Donnacona in Montréal as a Naval cadet. She studied law at the Université de Montréal and was called to the bar in 1993; she also holds a masters of international legal studies degree, with a specialization in national security law, from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She transferred to the Regular Force in 1997, working as a military lawyer in the JAG's office.[1][3][4]

In 1999, Bernatchez deployed with the Canadian Forces Air Command during the Kosovo war.[1]

Rear admiral Bernatchez retired in 2023, after serving 38 years in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Awards and decorations

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Bernatchez's personal awards and decorations include the following:



Ribbon Description Notes
Order of Military Merit (OMM)
  • Appointed Officer(OMM) on 04 October 2018[5]
General Service Medal (Canada)
  • Op Echo (24 Mars-10 Jun 1999)
Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD)
  • with two Clasp for 32 years of service

References

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  1. ^ a b c Defence, National (2013-03-21). "Rear-Admiral Geneviève Bernatchez, OMM, CD - Biography". gcnws. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  2. ^ "Military's first female judge advocate general says arrival sends a message". CTVNews. 2017-07-11. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  3. ^ "First female judge advocate general appointed to Canadian Armed Forces". www.canadianlawyermag.com. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  4. ^ Government of Canada, National Defence (2017-10-31). "Crowsnest - Fall 2017 | Shining at the highest levels: First woman appointed Judge Advocate General". www.navy-marine.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
  5. ^ "Order of Military Merit List". The Governor General of Canada.