After nearly 30 years of dedicated service, Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) François Bernier, MMM, CD, retired from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) on 1 December 2025.
Chief Warrant Officer François Bernier was born in Ville-Marie, Quebec, and enrolled in the CAF in 1996 as a Reservist. He completed Battle School in Valcartier, Quebec, and subsequently served five years in the Primary Reserve. From 1996 to 1997, he served with 9 Field Engineer Detachment in Rouyn-Noranda, and from 1998 to 2000 with 3 Field Engineer Regiment in Montreal.
In January 2001, CWO Bernier transferred to the Regular Force and was posted to 5e Régiment du génie de combat (5 RGC) in Valcartier, Quebec. During his time at 5 RGC, he served in a variety of positions across all squadrons of the Regiment.
In 2006, he was posted to the Language School in Valcartier to complete his second-language training. After successfully achieving his language profile within six months, he was posted in February 2007 to 2 Combat Engineer Regiment (2 CER) in Petawawa, Ontario. While serving at 2 CER, he was promoted to the ranks of Sergeant and later Warrant Officer.
In 2011, he was posted to the Canadian Forces Joint Operational Support Group Headquarters in Kingston, Ontario, where he served as the Training Warrant Officer. In 2012, he was posted to the Peace Support Training Centre in Kingston, where he served in various positions within A Squadron, including Operations Warrant Officer. During this period, he deployed to Africa and Australia.
In 2014, CWO Bernier returned to 2 CER in Petawawa and served in several key leadership positions within the Regiment. Promoted to Master Warrant Officer in 2016, he became the Squadron Sergeant Major of 24 Field Squadron. In 2017, he was selected as the Army Staff Headquarters Sergeant Major in Ottawa, working directly for the Commander of the Canadian Army and the Army Sergeant Major.
In 2019, he was selected to attend the Non-Commissioned Member Executive Professional Development Program at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. Upon completion of his Certificate in Military Studies in 2020, he returned to 2 CER as the Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Instructor.
Promoted to Chief Warrant Officer in 2021, he was posted to the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre in Wainwright, Alberta. There, he served as the Sergeant Major Operations Group and acted as the senior coach and mentor responsible for generating collective training readiness across the CAF. During his tenure at CMTC, he deployed on four occasions in support of Operation REASSURANCE to conduct Combat Readiness Evaluations of the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia.
CWO Bernier deployed on seven operational tours throughout his career: Bosnia (2002, 2004), Afghanistan (2008, 2009), and Latvia (2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024). In June 2023, he was
appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of 2 CER in Petawawa, Ontario. In December 2023, he was appointed Member of the Order of Military Merit (MMM). His final deployment was as the Sergeant Major of the National Support Element during Rotation 24-01 of Operation REASSURANCE.
After almost three decades of loyal and dedicated service to Canada, Chief Warrant Officer François Bernier retired from the Canadian Armed Forces on 1 December 2025. He has returned to his native region with the intention of enjoying life alongside family and friends.
CWO Bernier is married to his wife, Christine. He is the proud father of four children: Preston, a serving member of the CAF, Audrey, Samuel, and Antoine. He also raised his nephew, Jeremy. In his personal time, he enjoys working, fishing, hunting, and socializing.