General Rick Hillier commands as much attention in his presentations as he did in the military. He is the former Chief of the Defence Staff for Canadian Forces, which is the Canadian Forces’ Highest Rank and offers both engaging and informative presentations on leadership.
General Rick Hillier spent 30 years serving Canada, working with Prime Ministers to increase Canada’s significance within NATO, and solidified Canada’s reputation on the world stage. He understands tough decisions, leadership, diplomacy and strategy.
A Newfoundland and Labrador native, General Hillier joined Canadian Forces in 1973. He commanded troops from platoon to multinational formation level. He was appointed as the first Canadian Deputy Commanding General of III Corps, US Army in Fort Hood, Texas. In 2000 he took command of NATO’s Stabilization Force’s (SFOR) Multinational Division (Southwest) in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He was appointed as Commander of the Army and subsequently, in October 2003, he was selected as the Commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, Afghanistan.
General Hillier was promoted to his present rank and assumed duties as the Chief of the Defence Staff in February 2005.
