BIOGRAPHY

Vice-Admiral Denis Rouleau (Ret’d) is an Associate and Senior Counsel with David Pratt & Associates, a government relations and strategic consultancy firm located in Ottawa, Canada. A well-respected and experienced leader, Denis enjoyed a 39-year long career in the Canadian Armed Forces.

He began as an officer cadet at the College Militaire Royal de Saint-Jean and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Engineering and Management from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. As a Sub-Lieutenant, he attended the Naval Operations Course at the Canadian Forces Fleet School Halifax. His first posting at sea was as the Navigating Officer for the HMCS Assiniboine.

Denis was promoted to Lieutenant (N) in 1981 and completed the Combat Control Officer Course in 1984. He was promoted again in 1985 to Lieutenant-Commander and served on board HMCS Algonquin as the Combat Officer. From 1991-93, he was Executive Officer aboard HMCS Skeena.

Promoted to Commander in 1993, his assignments included command of HMCS Athabaskan from 1995-97. Denis held senior positions in NORAD and USSPACECOM in Colorado in 1997-98 and in 1999 was promoted to Captain (N). Following additional advanced training, he was appointed Commander Fifth Maritime Operational Group and Deputy Canadian Fleet Commander in 2002-03 after which he served as Executive Assistant to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He was promoted to Commodore in 2004 and in 2006-07, he assumed operational command of the NATO Fleet for one year.

Returning to headquarters in Ottawa, Denis was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 2007 and appointed Chief of Program responsible for overseeing resource allocation, change management, business planning, requirements planning and risk assessments for the Vice Chief of Defence Staff (VCDS).

In 2008, he was appointed Vice-Admiral and tasked with the VCDS role where he served as COS to both the CDS and Deputy Minister. His primary responsibility was managing the development of the Department Investment Plan to support the 20-year military operational requirements and defence acquisitions program.

In 2010, Denis became Canada’s Military Representative (MILREP) to NATO Headquarters in Brussels advising the Canadian Ambassador, the CDS and Minister of Defence on all military matters related to NATO. He retired in September of 2012. Denis is a Commander in the Order of Military Merit and was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.