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Daniel Ménard

February 27, 2024

Daniel Ménard (born 1965/1966)[1] is a Canadian executive and former Canadian Army brigadier general and NATO commander during the War in Afghanistan.[2] At the time of his promotion, he was one of the youngest general officers in the Canadian Armed Forces. In 2010, he was dismissed from command of Task Force Kandahar in Afghanistan following an affair with a subordinate, and subsequently retired from the military.[2]

Daniel Ménard
Daniel Ménard in Afghanistan, December 2009
Born1965 or 1966 (age 57–58)
Allegiance Canada
Service/branchArmy
Years of service1984-2010
RankBrigadier General
Unit
Commands held
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Spouse(s)
  • Julie Fortin
Children2

He entered the private sector in 2011 as managing director for Afghanistan with security company GardaWorld. In January 2014 he was arrested in Kabul following licensing issues under Afghanistan's strict regulations for private security contractors, but was released without charges after several weeks.[3] He has since worked as an executive at several Quebec-based companies.

Early life edit

Daniel Ménard studied military and international studies at the Canadian Forces College while enlisted.[4] He earned his masters in International Management from the University of Quebec.[4]

Military career edit

Ménard joined the Canadian Army in 1984. He was initially posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment as a platoon commander.[2][5] Ménard served in the United Kingdom, Germany, Haiti, and Bosnia.[2][5] In 2005, as a lieutenant-colonel, he was the commanding officer of a unit stationed at CFB Valcartier in Quebec.[6]

From September 2008 to July 2009, he was a colonel in command of the 5th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group.[7] He was promoted to brigadier general later that year at the age of 43, making him one of the youngest general officers in the Canadian Armed Forces at the time.[1][8]

Afghanistan edit

Ménard was deployed to Afghanistan in November 2009 as commander of NATO's Joint Task Force Afghanistan and Task Force Kandahar, officially succeeding Brigadier General Jonathan Vance on November 19.[9][10][11] He was the sixth Canadian and second French Canadian commander of Task Force Afghanistan since Canadian troops were deployed to Afghanistan in 2006.[11] He was initially in charge of 2800 Canadian soldiers, including units from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, as well as 1200 American troops seconded to Canadian command.[5][12]

By December 3, that had increased to 2000 American troops. At that time, he announced that a unit from the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army would be seconded to Canadian command in Kandahar to assist with stabilizing the city.[13] On December 18, The Montreal Gazette reported that three American units had been seconded to Ménard's command, bringing his brigade to a total of 5,800 troops.[14] On January 29, it was announced that a squadron from the US Army's 71st Cavalry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, would be joining Ménard's so-called "super brigade".[15]

On March 1, 2010, a car bomb was set off on the Tarnak River Bridge near the city of Kandahar, killing multiple civilians and one American soldier.[8] American war correspondent Michael Yon blamed the Canadian forces for failing to secure the bridge, specifically singling out Ménard for negligence.[8] The Canadian military denied that it had full responsibility for the bridge and described it as being in "a messy gray area that has changed hands a few times".[8]

On March 25, 2010, Ménard accidentally fired his C8 carbine rifle as he was boarding a helicopter at Kandahar Air Field, discharging two bullets into the ground.[16] At the time, he was loading the gun and had neglected to switch on the safety.[2][5] He reported the incident and ordered an investigation, which confirmed an accidental discharge had occurred, triggering an automatic court-martial.[5][16] He was found guilty of accidentally discharging his weapon in late May, and was fined $3,500.[5][17]

Affair with subordinate edit

In late May 2010, shortly after his accidental discharge conviction, Ménard was accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a subordinate, Master Corporal Bianka Langlois.[17][18] The relationship began in Canada in 2008 and continued after they were deployed to Afghanistan, where it was reportedly an open secret among personnel in Kandahar.[2][19] After Yon blogged about the affair in early 2010, military officials began an internal investigation, as Canadian military regulations forbid sexual relationships during active deployments.[2][19] Evidence of the affair was discovered in the pair's emails, and they were questioned.[2] Langlois admitted the relationship to investigators, although Ménard pressured her to delete her emails and recant.[20] According to court documents, he "lied twice about the affair when confronted".[19]

Lieutenant General Marc Lessard, commander of Canada's military abroad, stripped Ménard of his command of Task Force Kandahar on May 30.[17][18] It was the first time since World War II that a Canadian general had been dismissed on the battlefield.[2] Vance resumed command shortly after Ménard's removal.[5][21]

Ménard was charged on July 12, 2010, with four counts: three from the National Defence Act relating to the inappropriate conduct and obstruction of justice, and one from the Criminal Code of Canada relating to obstruction of justice.[18] Ménard was sent home to Canada and assigned a desk job in Ottawa.[2][22] He resigned from the military effective December 2010.[2][23] On July 21, 2011, he pled guilty to two counts relating to inappropriate conduct; the obstruction charges were dropped.[19] He was fined $7,000 and demoted to the rank of corporal, although his resignation rendered the demotion symbolic.[23] The incident resulted in public debate in Canada about the Canadian military's rules about fraternization as well as workplace relationships in general.[24][25][26]

Private sector edit

GardaWorld edit

Security company GardaWorld hired Ménard in November 2011 as their managing director for Afghanistan, working out of Afghanistan and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.[2][27] Canada's Department of National Defence paid $40,000 for him to relocate from the Montreal area to the United Arab Emirates to take up the job, under a policy which allows retired members with at least 20 years of service to claim the cost of one post-retirement move.[28]

On January 10, 2014, Ménard was arrested in Kabul following a meeting with Afghan officials. He was accused of possessing military equipment – 129 rifles and 148 radios – without a license.[2] Afghan authorities described the charges as "gun smuggling," but GardaWorld described the situation as an administrative issue relating to licensing for the equipment, as Afghanistan strictly regulates the licensing of military equipment to private military contractors.[2][29][30] Ménard was kept in a holding facility until he was released without charges on February 19.[3] He departed the country for Dubai shortly after.[31]

Subsequent positions edit

After spending nearly 6 years with GardaWorld, Ménard resigned in early 2017 to assume the position of chief operations officer with Quebec-based supply chain, Groupe Robert.[32] Ménard later served as the chief executive officer of Montreal-based security technology company Octasic.[4] As of 2023, Ménard is the chief operating and financial officer at Voti Detection, a Montreal-based company which specializes in 3D X-ray security scanning.[33]

Personal life edit

Ménard is married with two children.[34] His wife was a major in the Canadian Armed Forces.[22]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Life ruined by affair disclosure: disgraced general". nationalpost. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Canada's former top soldier in Afghanistan Daniel Ménard now locked in Kabul jail over alleged gun smuggling". nationalpost. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  3. ^ a b "Daniel Ménard, ex-Canadian general, released from Afghan prison". CBC News. February 19, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Daniel Menard - Senior Executive". ideamensch.com. 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Verma, Sonia; Blackwell, Richard (2010-05-30). "Daniel Ménard scandal leaves military reeling". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  6. ^ Branswell, Brenda (November 22, 2005). "Quebec soldier dies 'instantly' in Alberta as vehicle rolls". The Montreal Gazette. p. 1. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  7. ^ Bornais, Marie-France. "Un nouveau commandant à Valcartier". Le Journal de Québec. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  8. ^ a b c d Brown, David W. (2010-06-01). "Michael Yon's War". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  9. ^ "New general in command of Canadian troops in Afghanistan". CTVNews. 2009-11-19. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  10. ^ Auerswald, David P.; Saideman, Stephen M. (2014-01-05). NATO in Afghanistan: Fighting Together, Fighting Alone. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-15938-6.
  11. ^ a b Fisher, Matthew (November 20, 2009). "NATO puts pressure on Ottawa". The Montreal Gazette. p. 4. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  12. ^ Fisher, Matthew (November 28, 2009). "'Super brigade' expansion". The Montreal Gazette. p. 7. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  13. ^ Fisher, Matthew (December 3, 2009). "Troop laydown shifts". The Montreal Gazette. p. 12. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  14. ^ "Elite U.S. force to join Canadians in Kandahar". The Gazette. 2009-12-18. p. 23. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  15. ^ Fisher, Matthew (January 29, 2010). "Military presence increases". The Montreal Gazette. p. 12. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard rifle discharge probed". thestar.com. 2010-04-18. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  17. ^ a b c "Allegations 'mortal blow' to Menard's career: Drapeau". CTVNews. 2010-05-30. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  18. ^ a b c "Charges laid against Brigadier-General Daniel Ménard, Canada's top military officer in Afghanistan". nationalpost. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  19. ^ a b c d "Former military commander fined $7,000 for sexual affair". thestar.com. 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  20. ^ Chase, Steven (2010-11-23). "Military accuses Daniel Ménard of obstructing probe into alleged affair". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
  21. ^ "Military: Canadian commander in Afghanistan relieved after 'inappropriate relationship'". Associated Press. 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  22. ^ a b "General toppled by a corporal's revelation". thestar.com. 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  23. ^ a b "Menard fined, busted down a rank for Afghan sex affair". CTVNews. 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  24. ^ "Smithson: Romance always a risky affair in the workplace - Kelowna Capital News". www.kelownacapnews.com. 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  25. ^ "Canadian commander in Haiti sacked, faces probe". CTVNews. 2010-07-09. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  26. ^ "Workplace romance: A touchy subject". montrealgazette. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  27. ^ "Former Canadian brigadier-general Daniel Menard in Afghan jail". thestar.com. 2014-01-29. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  28. ^ "DND paid $40K for disgraced former general Daniel Menard's move". CTVNews. 2014-02-17. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  29. ^ Kelly, Jeremy (2014-01-30). "Former Canadian brigadier-general Daniel Menard in Afghan jail accused of gun smuggling". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  30. ^ Cudmore, James (January 30, 2014). "Daniel Ménard, ex-Canadian general jailed in Afghanistan, to be released". CBC News. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  31. ^ McClearn, Matthew (March 17, 2014). "Why is Montreal's GardaWorld on the outs in both Afghanistan and Iraq?". Canadian Business. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  32. ^ "CANADA : Dan Menard bounces back with Robert - 05/04/2017". Intelligence Online. 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  33. ^ "VOTDF | VOTI Detection Inc. Company Profile & Executives - WSJ". www.wsj.com. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  34. ^ Peritz, Ingrid (2011-07-21). "Former Canadian general fined, demoted for affair". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-01-06.

February 27, 2024
daniel, ménard, born, 1965, 1966, canadian, executive, former, canadian, army, brigadier, general, nato, commander, during, afghanistan, time, promotion, youngest, general, officers, canadian, armed, forces, 2010, dismissed, from, command, task, force, kandaha. Daniel Menard born 1965 1966 1 is a Canadian executive and former Canadian Army brigadier general and NATO commander during the War in Afghanistan 2 At the time of his promotion he was one of the youngest general officers in the Canadian Armed Forces In 2010 he was dismissed from command of Task Force Kandahar in Afghanistan following an affair with a subordinate and subsequently retired from the military 2 Daniel MenardDaniel Menard in Afghanistan December 2009Born1965 or 1966 age 57 58 Allegiance CanadaService wbr branchArmyYears of service1984 2010RankBrigadier GeneralUnit3rd Battalion Royal 22nd RegimentCommands heldTask Force KandaharJoint Task Force AfghanistanBattles warsWar in Afghanistan 2001 2021 Spouse s Julie FortinChildren2He entered the private sector in 2011 as managing director for Afghanistan with security company GardaWorld In January 2014 he was arrested in Kabul following licensing issues under Afghanistan s strict regulations for private security contractors but was released without charges after several weeks 3 He has since worked as an executive at several Quebec based companies Contents 1 Early life 2 Military career 2 1 Afghanistan 2 2 Affair with subordinate 3 Private sector 3 1 GardaWorld 3 2 Subsequent positions 4 Personal life 5 ReferencesEarly life editDaniel Menard studied military and international studies at the Canadian Forces College while enlisted 4 He earned his masters in International Management from the University of Quebec 4 Military career editMenard joined the Canadian Army in 1984 He was initially posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment as a platoon commander 2 5 Menard served in the United Kingdom Germany Haiti and Bosnia 2 5 In 2005 as a lieutenant colonel he was the commanding officer of a unit stationed at CFB Valcartier in Quebec 6 From September 2008 to July 2009 he was a colonel in command of the 5th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group 7 He was promoted to brigadier general later that year at the age of 43 making him one of the youngest general officers in the Canadian Armed Forces at the time 1 8 Afghanistan edit Menard was deployed to Afghanistan in November 2009 as commander of NATO s Joint Task Force Afghanistan and Task Force Kandahar officially succeeding Brigadier General Jonathan Vance on November 19 9 10 11 He was the sixth Canadian and second French Canadian commander of Task Force Afghanistan since Canadian troops were deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 11 He was initially in charge of 2800 Canadian soldiers including units from Princess Patricia s Canadian Light Infantry as well as 1200 American troops seconded to Canadian command 5 12 By December 3 that had increased to 2000 American troops At that time he announced that a unit from the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army would be seconded to Canadian command in Kandahar to assist with stabilizing the city 13 On December 18 The Montreal Gazette reported that three American units had been seconded to Menard s command bringing his brigade to a total of 5 800 troops 14 On January 29 it was announced that a squadron from the US Army s 71st Cavalry Regiment 10th Mountain Division would be joining Menard s so called super brigade 15 On March 1 2010 a car bomb was set off on the Tarnak River Bridge near the city of Kandahar killing multiple civilians and one American soldier 8 American war correspondent Michael Yon blamed the Canadian forces for failing to secure the bridge specifically singling out Menard for negligence 8 The Canadian military denied that it had full responsibility for the bridge and described it as being in a messy gray area that has changed hands a few times 8 On March 25 2010 Menard accidentally fired his C8 carbine rifle as he was boarding a helicopter at Kandahar Air Field discharging two bullets into the ground 16 At the time he was loading the gun and had neglected to switch on the safety 2 5 He reported the incident and ordered an investigation which confirmed an accidental discharge had occurred triggering an automatic court martial 5 16 He was found guilty of accidentally discharging his weapon in late May and was fined 3 500 5 17 Affair with subordinate edit In late May 2010 shortly after his accidental discharge conviction Menard was accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a subordinate Master Corporal Bianka Langlois 17 18 The relationship began in Canada in 2008 and continued after they were deployed to Afghanistan where it was reportedly an open secret among personnel in Kandahar 2 19 After Yon blogged about the affair in early 2010 military officials began an internal investigation as Canadian military regulations forbid sexual relationships during active deployments 2 19 Evidence of the affair was discovered in the pair s emails and they were questioned 2 Langlois admitted the relationship to investigators although Menard pressured her to delete her emails and recant 20 According to court documents he lied twice about the affair when confronted 19 Lieutenant General Marc Lessard commander of Canada s military abroad stripped Menard of his command of Task Force Kandahar on May 30 17 18 It was the first time since World War II that a Canadian general had been dismissed on the battlefield 2 Vance resumed command shortly after Menard s removal 5 21 Menard was charged on July 12 2010 with four counts three from the National Defence Act relating to the inappropriate conduct and obstruction of justice and one from the Criminal Code of Canada relating to obstruction of justice 18 Menard was sent home to Canada and assigned a desk job in Ottawa 2 22 He resigned from the military effective December 2010 2 23 On July 21 2011 he pled guilty to two counts relating to inappropriate conduct the obstruction charges were dropped 19 He was fined 7 000 and demoted to the rank of corporal although his resignation rendered the demotion symbolic 23 The incident resulted in public debate in Canada about the Canadian military s rules about fraternization as well as workplace relationships in general 24 25 26 Private sector editGardaWorld edit Security company GardaWorld hired Menard in November 2011 as their managing director for Afghanistan working out of Afghanistan and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates 2 27 Canada s Department of National Defence paid 40 000 for him to relocate from the Montreal area to the United Arab Emirates to take up the job under a policy which allows retired members with at least 20 years of service to claim the cost of one post retirement move 28 On January 10 2014 Menard was arrested in Kabul following a meeting with Afghan officials He was accused of possessing military equipment 129 rifles and 148 radios without a license 2 Afghan authorities described the charges as gun smuggling but GardaWorld described the situation as an administrative issue relating to licensing for the equipment as Afghanistan strictly regulates the licensing of military equipment to private military contractors 2 29 30 Menard was kept in a holding facility until he was released without charges on February 19 3 He departed the country for Dubai shortly after 31 Subsequent positions edit After spending nearly 6 years with GardaWorld Menard resigned in early 2017 to assume the position of chief operations officer with Quebec based supply chain Groupe Robert 32 Menard later served as the chief executive officer of Montreal based security technology company Octasic 4 As of 2023 update Menard is the chief operating and financial officer at Voti Detection a Montreal based company which specializes in 3D X ray security scanning 33 Personal life editMenard is married with two children 34 His wife was a major in the Canadian Armed Forces 22 References edit a b Life ruined by affair disclosure disgraced general nationalpost Retrieved 2023 01 06 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Canada s former top soldier in Afghanistan Daniel Menard now locked in Kabul jail over alleged gun smuggling nationalpost Retrieved 2023 01 04 a b Daniel Menard ex Canadian general released from Afghan prison CBC News February 19 2014 Retrieved January 6 2023 a b c Daniel Menard Senior Executive ideamensch com 2021 08 09 Retrieved 2023 01 04 a b c d e f g Verma Sonia Blackwell Richard 2010 05 30 Daniel Menard scandal leaves military reeling The Globe and Mail Retrieved 2023 01 05 Branswell Brenda November 22 2005 Quebec soldier dies instantly in Alberta as vehicle rolls The Montreal Gazette p 1 Retrieved February 10 2023 Bornais Marie France Un nouveau commandant a Valcartier Le Journal de Quebec Retrieved 2023 01 07 a b c d Brown David W 2010 06 01 Michael Yon s War The Atlantic Retrieved 2023 01 04 New general in command of Canadian troops in Afghanistan CTVNews 2009 11 19 Retrieved 2023 01 07 Auerswald David P Saideman Stephen M 2014 01 05 NATO in Afghanistan Fighting Together Fighting Alone Princeton University Press ISBN 978 0 691 15938 6 a b Fisher Matthew November 20 2009 NATO puts pressure on Ottawa The Montreal Gazette p 4 Retrieved February 10 2023 Fisher Matthew November 28 2009 Super brigade expansion The Montreal Gazette p 7 Retrieved February 10 2023 Fisher Matthew December 3 2009 Troop laydown shifts The Montreal Gazette p 12 Retrieved February 10 2023 Elite U S force to join Canadians in Kandahar The Gazette 2009 12 18 p 23 Retrieved 2023 02 10 Fisher Matthew January 29 2010 Military presence increases The Montreal Gazette p 12 Retrieved February 10 2023 a b Brig Gen Daniel Menard rifle discharge probed thestar com 2010 04 18 Retrieved 2023 01 04 a b c Allegations mortal blow to Menard s career Drapeau CTVNews 2010 05 30 Retrieved 2023 01 04 a b c Charges laid against Brigadier General Daniel Menard Canada s top military officer in Afghanistan nationalpost Retrieved 2023 01 04 a b c d Former military commander fined 7 000 for sexual affair thestar com 2011 07 21 Retrieved 2023 01 05 Chase Steven 2010 11 23 Military accuses Daniel Menard of obstructing probe into alleged affair The Globe and Mail Retrieved 2023 01 07 Military Canadian commander in Afghanistan relieved after inappropriate relationship Associated Press 2015 03 27 Retrieved 2023 01 04 a b General toppled by a corporal s revelation thestar com 2010 06 01 Retrieved 2023 01 06 a b Menard fined busted down a rank for Afghan sex affair CTVNews 2011 07 21 Retrieved 2023 01 04 Smithson Romance always a risky affair in the workplace Kelowna Capital News www kelownacapnews com 2011 07 26 Retrieved 2023 01 06 Canadian commander in Haiti sacked faces probe CTVNews 2010 07 09 Retrieved 2023 01 06 Workplace romance A touchy subject montrealgazette Retrieved 2023 01 06 Former Canadian brigadier general Daniel Menard in Afghan jail thestar com 2014 01 29 Retrieved 2023 01 06 DND paid 40K for disgraced former general Daniel Menard s move CTVNews 2014 02 17 Retrieved 2023 01 06 Kelly Jeremy 2014 01 30 Former Canadian brigadier general Daniel Menard in Afghan jail accused of gun smuggling The Globe and Mail Retrieved 2023 01 06 Cudmore James January 30 2014 Daniel Menard ex Canadian general jailed in Afghanistan to be released CBC News Retrieved January 6 2023 McClearn Matthew March 17 2014 Why is Montreal s GardaWorld on the outs in both Afghanistan and Iraq Canadian Business Retrieved January 6 2023 CANADA Dan Menard bounces back with Robert 05 04 2017 Intelligence Online 2017 04 05 Retrieved 2023 01 06 VOTDF VOTI Detection Inc Company Profile amp Executives WSJ www wsj com Retrieved 2023 01 06 Peritz Ingrid 2011 07 21 Former Canadian general fined demoted for affair The Globe and Mail Retrieved 2023 01 06 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Daniel Menard amp oldid 1195001745, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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