Major-General (Retired) Simon Bernard, OMM, CD, is a former senior Canadian Armed Forces officer whose 37-year career has focused on operational leadership, organizational transformation, and the well-being of military members and their families. As Strategic Advisor to the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans (CPCoE), he applies this experience to advancing a Veteran-centred, evidence-based strategy to better understand and manage Veteran-specific chronic pain.

He has commanded at multiple levels, including the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment and the Citadelle de Québec, and has held key strategic roles such as Director-General Military Personnel Strategic, Director General – Intelligence and Plans, Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander at Canadian Joint Operations Command, leading complex, multi-partner operations in Canada and abroad. His secondment to the Public Health Agency of Canada during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout further strengthened his expertise in national health system coordination and large-scale implementation, directly supporting the CPCoE’s goals of translating research into practical improvements in care and quality of life for Veterans and their families.

Fluent in both official languages, Major-General (Retired) Bernard holds a bachelor’s degree in administration, a master’s degree in war studies, and advanced professional military education from Canadian, French, and American institutions, enabling him to bridge strategy, policy, and applied research in support of the CPCoE’s vision of improved well-being for service members, Veterans, and their families living with chronic pain.

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