On April 3, 2007 Veterans Affairs Canada announced the creation of a Veterans Ombudsman. The Veterans Ombudsman will be an impartial, arms-length and independent officer with the responsibility to assist veterans in pursuing their concerns and address their issues. This position will strengthen the ability to respond quickly and fairly to concerns.
The Veterans Ombudsman will raise awareness about the issues facing veterans and their families and uphold the Veterans Bill of Rights. The Veterans Bill of Rights represents the expression of the rights veterans have long identified as important. It is a comprehensive declaration relevant to war service veterans, retired members of the Canadian Forces (Regular Force and Reserve), The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, spouses, common-law partners, survivors and primary care givers as well as other eligible dependants.
Colonel Patrick B. Stogran, MSC, CD
Effective November 11, 2007, Colonel Stogran assumed responsbilities as the Veterans Ombudsman.
Colonel Stogran graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in 1980 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and was posted to the Third Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Victoria. In 1986 Colonel Stogran attended Division I of the Technical Staff Course at the Royal Military College of Sciences in Shrivenham, England. He then joined the Light Armoured Vehicle Project in Ottawa where he was involved in drafting the Statement of Requirement for the acquisitions of the Coyote and LAV III. A tour with the Canadian Airborne Regiment was to follow leading to a promotion and posting to the First Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Calgary to be a Mechanized Company Commander. After three years Colonel Stogran was seconded to the United Nations as a Military Observer in Bosnia where as Team Leader in the enclave of Gorazde during the Serbian offensive of April 1994, he was Mentioned-in-Dispatch for courage under fire.
Upon returning to Canada in 1994, Colonel Stogran attended the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College. In 1995 he was posted to the Austrian Army Land Warfare Centre. He was then promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, returning to Canada with the Department of Applied Military Sciences at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. As a licensed Professional Engineer in the provinc of Ontario, he was responsible for the Modern Weapons and Military Vehicles Courses at the College.
Colonel Stogran assumed command of the 3 PPCLI in September 2000. The Battalion became the immediate Reaction Force (Land) in April 2001 and deployed to Afghanistan on Operation Apollo/Enduring Freedom in February 2002, marking the first time Canada has committed to ground combat operations since the Korean War. During the tour the Battalion launched the first combat air assault mission in the history of the Canadian Army and conducted numerous offensive and defensive combat missions at section, platoon, company and battle group level.
After returning from Afghanistan, Colonel Stogran was posted to National Defence Headquarters with Land Staff. He is currently the Associate Director General of Science and Technology Operations at Defence Research and Development Canada.
Much of Colonel's spare time is consumed in training for martial arts as he holds a second degree black belt in Karate.
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