Regimental Second-in-Command
Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
 Major John Cochrane was born on the 3rd of October 1969 in Toronto, Ontario. He grew up in a variety of areas in and around the Toronto area including Downsview, Milton and Mississauga. He attended Meadowvale High School followed by Sheridan College in Brampton Ontario, where he studied Loss Prevention, a more specialized aspect of the Policing Program that was offered. In 1988, while still in high school, he joined, the Naval Reserves, HMCS York, as an Ordinary Seaman. In 1990 then Able Seaman Cochrane applied, and was accepted, as an Officer Cadet into the MARS program. On completion of phase training he spent the next 30 months working as a Watch Keeper on various Class B contracts on both the East and West Coasts.
In 1993 he determined it was time to make a proper commitment and applied, and was accepted, into the Regular Force. Shortly thereafter OCdt Cochrane commenced his training with the Royal Canadian Armour Corps. After a solid 18 months of phase and French training, he was posted in August 1995 to Calgary, Alberta and Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians). After one year the entire Regiment was moved to Edmonton where it currently resides. Following an additional three years of regimental duty, then Captain Cochrane, was posted in 1999 to the Royal Canadian Armour School in Oromocto, New Brunswick. He spent four years at the School occupying a number of positions in Training and Standards Squadrons; it was during this time that he also attended the Transition Command and Staff Course (TCSC) in Kingston. In 2003 Captain Cochrane was posted back to regimental duty where he occupied three positions over the next three years, 2IC Headquarters Squadron, 2IC Recce Squadron and Regimental Adjutant.
Major Cochrane was promoted to his current rank in June 2006. He was fortunate enough to proceed immediately on a seven week assignment to Cyprus as the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Third Location Decompression Centre for the members of Task Force Afghanistan returning to Canada. On return he completed eight months of intense (12 courses in two semesters) university education to obtain his Bachelor of Arts. On completion of his schooling he was posted to Wainwright, Alberta where he was employed as the Officer Commanding Training Support Company at Land Forces Western Area Training Centre. Major Cochrane was posted back to regimental duty in April 2008, where he proceeded directly on the United Kingdom’s Combat Team Commander’s Course. On completion and return to Canada he assumed his current position of Officer Commanding C Squadron.
He has completed two operational tours, SFOR Roto 1 in Dravar, Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1997 and ISAF Roto 2 in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2004.
Major Cochrane is married to Kate Cochrane (nee Desimio) and has two wonderful kids, Evan and Sydney, as well as two very hairy dogs, Naomi and Victoria.
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