LCol Lawrence James Zaporzan

Assistant Canadian Forces Military Attaché (A/CFMA)

LCol Zaporzan was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He attended Queen’s University at Kingston and graduated with a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1980. On the completion of Armoured Officer Classification Training, he was posted to the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) until 1984. During this time he also served six months with The Royal Canadian Dragoons as a Troop Leader in Germany as a participant in a REFORGER exercise. After completing three years as the Unit Support Officer of the Queen’s York Rangers (1st Americans), LCol Zaporzan returned to the Hussars in Lahr, Germany, finishing his tour as the Operations Officer in 1990. After a one year French course and a year’s duty in Force Mobile Command Headquarters, he was appointed to command Recce Squadron of the RCD. LCol Zaporzan then spent a year as the Executive Officer to the Chief of Operations and Liaison in the Sinai with the Multinational Force and Observers prior to attending Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in 1995-96. He was posted to the Armour School as the OC Training Squadron upon graduation and subsequently filled the post of Chief Instructor until promoted to his present rank in 1999. LCol Zaporzan commanded the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) 1999-2001, after which he assumed the position of Director Land Force Readiness 3 (G3 Ops and Plans) on the Land Staff, National Defence Headquarters until January 2003. While DLFR-3 he worked the Canadian response to the 9/11 crisis and participated in the preparations and led the reconnaissance team for Canada’s first deployment to Afghanistan. In February 2003 he was posted to Colorado Springs as a founding member of the Bi-National Planning Group, where he was initially responsible for Domestic Operations planning. He later became the Division Chief responsible for C4 Architecture, Training and Exercises, and the implementation of Bi-National Planning Group products. In 2005 he moved to NORAD-USNORTHCOM J7 fulfilling the role of the Training and Education Deputy Division Chief. He is currently the Assistant Canadian Forces Military Attaché in Washington, DC.

LCol Zaporzan obtained his MA in History from the University of New Brunswick in 2001. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (USAF) in 2007. Larry is married to Susan (nee Coupland) and they are blessed with two sons, Alexander, 18 and Justin, 16.