Brigadier-General (Ret’d) Ray Romses, OMM, CD, MA grew up in Lethbridge and began his military service as an army cadet in 1966. Later he joined the 18th Field Regiment RCA (Militia) in 1969. In fall 1970 he was commissioned as a Lieutenant with the Cadet Services of Canada and worked with the 2296-18th Field Regiment RCA Cadet Corps. In 1972 he was accepted into the Regular Officer Training Plan and following graduation from the University of Lethbridge commissioned in 1975 as a Lieutenant with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI).
Ray commanded at various levels including: the First Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Canada’s Special Forces unit – Joint Task Force Two, Base Commander Canadian Forces Base Calgary, Commander Land Force Atlantic Area (now 5 Canadian Division), and Commander Canadian Defence Liaison Staff (London, England).
He served two United Nations Cyprus tours, a posting with the 3rd Battalion British Parachute Regiment, completed a NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR) tour as Canadian Contingent Commander in Bosnia, was Chief of Staff of the Multinational Stand-by High Readiness Brigade for United Nations operations (SHIRBRIG) in Denmark, served a United Nations tour in Ethiopia and Eritrea as the Force Chief of Staff, and whilst Commander CDLS (London) he was accredited as Canada’s Defence Attaché to both the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.
Following retirement in 2009 he returned to Lethbridge. Ray is married to Carol Romses (Ririe) and they have one son.
