Major-General Thompson completes multinational force tour and set to retire later this year

MGen. Denis Thompson’s tenure as the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) Commander in Sinai came to an end on March 1, after a three-year tour of this multinational force

“Throughout his service as Force Commander of the Multinational Force and Observers, Major-General Thompson had shown a tremendous commitment to maintaining peace and security in the Middle East. Thank you, Major-General Thompson, for representing Canada so well during your three years as Force Commander of the MFO,” said Minister of National Defence, Harjit Sajjan.

Thompson is set to retire from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) later this year after a 39 year-career in the Forces.

Thompson, a graduate of the Royal Military College, has served in all three Battalions of the Royal Canadian Regiment as well as Joint Task Force 2 over the course of his career.

The Major-General has served in command appointments in Cyprus, Germany, and Bosnia twice. In 2008 he was chosen as the Commander of the Task Force Kandahar, the brigade-level formation conducting the International Security Assistance Force mission in Kandahar Province.

He has also served as the Commander of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command in Ottawa.

Thompson was the first Canadian General Officer to hold the position of MFO Commander since 2001-2004. Canada has been a part of this MFO, under the name of Operation CALUMET, since 1985.

“Major-General Thompson has demonstrated exceptional leadership as Force Commander of the Multinational Force and Observers. During the past three years, he was able to draw upon a wealth of operational experience to strengthen the safety and security of the mission. I congratulate him on his success and thank him for his dedication and professionalism,” stated Gen. Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff.

The position of MFO Commander will now be held by Australian MGen. Simon Stuart. Established in 1981 by the United States, along with Egypt and Israel, the MFO is an independent international organization tasked with peacekeeping responsibilities in the Sinai. The MFO supervises the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace.

Along with Canada, the other nations part of the MFO are Australia, Canada, Colombia, the Czech Republic, the Republic of the Fiji Islands, France, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uruguay, all contributing towards the 1400 personnel deployed in the region.