Herb Petras
Encyclopedia
Major-General
(Ret'd) Herb Petras, CMM, CD
, began his military career at the age of 16 when he joined the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. He attained the rank of Warrant Officer
. On graduation from university he transferred to the infantry
, where he commanded the Second Battalion, Irish Regiment
and Northern Ontario Militia District (now 33 Canadian Brigade Group).
In 1980, he was selected to attend the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College (Reserve) in Quantico, Virginia, USA. This was followed by a tour as a DS on the Militia Officer Staff Course in Kingston.
On relinquishing command General Petras was posted to Land Force Central Area Headquarters, where he served in strategic planning, the Director of the Militia Officer Training School, responsible for all officer staff training, Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) and Deputy Commander of Land Force Central Area.
In August 1999, he was posted to Chief of Land Staff, to do Language and Senior Leadership training. The following year, Major-General Petras was appointed Director General Land Reserves. During his tour as DGLRes he played a major role in implementing Phases I and II of Land Force Reserve Restructure.
In July 2003, he was appointed Director General Land Combat Development, a new position, with the mandate to shape, and re-energize the capability development process for the army. He served in that role until his appointment as Chief - Reserves and Cadets in December 2004.
In addition to being the principal advisor to the CDS on all matters Reserve, he led the preparation of the CF Transformation Directive "The Future of the CF Reserve" which focused on Reserves as an operational, as well as a strategic capability, and set the foundation for the ongoing transformation of the Reserves in the Canadian Forces. Major General Petras also served as chair of the NATO Reserve Forces Committee, where his work contributed to highlighting Canada’s leadership role in NATO.
Major General Petras was appointed Commander in the Order of Military Merit in 2006.
His military career complemented his civilian career in the education sector, where he served as Director of Athletics, and then Principal of St Charles College and Secondary School Coordinator at the Sudbury Catholic School Board.
Major General Petras has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Laurentian University and a Masters Degree from the University of Toronto.
He retired from the Canadian Forces in 2008, and is currently a member of the Senior Directing Staff at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
(Ret'd) Herb Petras, CMM, CD
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
, began his military career at the age of 16 when he joined the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. He attained the rank of Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
. On graduation from university he transferred to the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, where he commanded the Second Battalion, Irish Regiment
The Irish Regiment of Canada
2nd Battalion, The Irish Regiment of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces based in Sudbury, Ontario. The 1st Battalion was reduced to nil strength and placed on the Supplemental Order of Battle on 31 December 1964....
and Northern Ontario Militia District (now 33 Canadian Brigade Group).
In 1980, he was selected to attend the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College (Reserve) in Quantico, Virginia, USA. This was followed by a tour as a DS on the Militia Officer Staff Course in Kingston.
On relinquishing command General Petras was posted to Land Force Central Area Headquarters, where he served in strategic planning, the Director of the Militia Officer Training School, responsible for all officer staff training, Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) and Deputy Commander of Land Force Central Area.
In August 1999, he was posted to Chief of Land Staff, to do Language and Senior Leadership training. The following year, Major-General Petras was appointed Director General Land Reserves. During his tour as DGLRes he played a major role in implementing Phases I and II of Land Force Reserve Restructure.
In July 2003, he was appointed Director General Land Combat Development, a new position, with the mandate to shape, and re-energize the capability development process for the army. He served in that role until his appointment as Chief - Reserves and Cadets in December 2004.
In addition to being the principal advisor to the CDS on all matters Reserve, he led the preparation of the CF Transformation Directive "The Future of the CF Reserve" which focused on Reserves as an operational, as well as a strategic capability, and set the foundation for the ongoing transformation of the Reserves in the Canadian Forces. Major General Petras also served as chair of the NATO Reserve Forces Committee, where his work contributed to highlighting Canada’s leadership role in NATO.
Major General Petras was appointed Commander in the Order of Military Merit in 2006.
His military career complemented his civilian career in the education sector, where he served as Director of Athletics, and then Principal of St Charles College and Secondary School Coordinator at the Sudbury Catholic School Board.
Major General Petras has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Laurentian University and a Masters Degree from the University of Toronto.
He retired from the Canadian Forces in 2008, and is currently a member of the Senior Directing Staff at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto.