Capt(N) Richard Bergeron, OMM, CD

Canadian Forces Naval Attaché (CFNA)

Captain (N) Richard Bergeron is the Naval Attaché on the Canadian Defence Liaison Staff in Washington, DC. He assumed these functions in July 2009 after serving as the Deputy Director, Joint Training & exercises and Lessons Learned at NORAD-US NORTHCOM and as Canadian Co-Director of the Bi-National Planning Group (BPG) at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado from July 2005 to June 2009.

Captain (N) Richard Bergeron was born in Granby, Quebec in 1957. He joined the Canadian Forces through the Regular Officer Training Plan in 1974 and graduated from le Collège Militaire Royal de St-Jean in 1979 with a Bachelor in Business Administration.

After obtaining his bridge watchkeeping certificate in October 1980, Captain (N) Bergeron became an Antisubmarine Warfare Director. As a junior officer he served in various positions at sea aboard HMC Ships Saskatchewan, Nipigon, and Yukon. He also served aboard the French frigate Montcalm for a two-year tour in Toulon, France.

In 1987, following a year-long Combat Control Officer course, Captain (N) Bergeron was appointed as Combat Officer of Margaree and the Commissioning crew of HMCS Halifax. Subsequently, he served as Operations Officer of the fifth Canadian Destroyer Squadron before attending the Canadian Forces Command and Staff Course in National Defence Headquarters as Executive Assistant to the associate Assistant Deputy Minister (Personnel) 1996–97.

Captain (N) Bergeron commanded HMCS Ottawa from 1997 until 1999, during which time he deployed to the Arabian Gulf as part of the Abraham Lincoln Battle Group for a six-month period.

Following his command, Captain (N) Bergeron attended the U.S. Naval Command College in Newport, RI. He graduated in June 2000 and subsequently completed a Graduate Degree in Arts in the International Relations program at Salve Regina University before joining the Navy Warfare Development Command in Newport, R.I. as an exchange officer. In 2003 Captain (N) Bergeron returned to Canada and assumed the functions of Director NDHQ Secretariat in Ottawa, where he served until July 2005.