LGen Stephen Kelsey began his career in 1985 as a soldier in the Canadian Scottish Regiment. Commissioning in 1988, he first served under the NATO flag with the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) in Lahr, West Germany. He later joined his beloved Regiment Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) in 2000.
A proud tanker, his formative years were in command positions in the 80s and 90s with Leopard tank and armoured reconnaissance units in 4th and 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Groups.
Between 2010 and 2012, he commanded Western Area Training Centre with sub-units across three Provinces, before being appointed Deputy Commander Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre. He was Director Armour 2013-2016.
Operational deployments include Croatia and Montenegro under the United Nations and twice in Afghanistan (2004 under ISAF; 2009 as part of NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan). In 2015, he commanded Canadian Force Base Kingston before deploying to Iraq as Chief of Staff Combined Joint Force Land Component Command HQ. Between 2017 and 2020 was the Canadian Army Director General Land Capability Development and Chief of Staff Strategy. In 2020, he was appointed the Canadian Armed Forces’ Chief Force Development.
LGen Kelsey is currently the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps’ Senior Serving and the Senior Serving Strathcona. He is a graduate of the National Security Program, holds a Masters in Conflict Analysis, has completed the Senior Executives in National and International Security program at Harvard, and is an alumni of the Baltic Defence College. He is a recipient of the US Legion of Merit, the French National Defence Medal Gold Echelon, and the Honorific Joint Decoration of the Defense Staff of Italy.
LGen Kelsey was appointed Allied Joint Force Command Naples, Deputy Commander on 3 June 2022.