Officer Commanding
A Squadron
Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
Maj McKenzie joined the Regiment in May of 1984, having completed recruit school at CFRD Cornwallis and served his first tour of Regimental duty in B Sqn until June of 1992. During that period, he deployed on a peacekeeping tour in Cyprus and attained the rank of Sgt. In Jan of 1992, he was trained as a Tac Hel Observer (CH-136 KIOWA) and was posted to 408 Tac Hel Sqn, returning to the Regiment in Aug of 1993 for deployment to Bosnia in 1994, once again in B Sqn. In June of 1995, he was posted to Valcartier Quebec for French language training and employment as a tank Troop Warrant (Leopard C1) in Esc B, 12e Regiment Blinde du Canada. Maj McKenzie returned to the Regiment in March of 1997 and deployed to Bosnia as part of the Strathcona BG that August.
Following a year and a half as a troop WO and Tp Ldr in C Sqn, he deployed to Kosovo as the tank (Leopard C1) Troop Warrant Officer in June of 1999. Post-tour, he served as the Regimental Operations Warrant until being posted to the Land Forces Western Area Training Centre as the CSM of Advance Training Company, holding that position until Dec of 01, when he was commissioned from the ranks.
On commissioning, he returned to the Regiment and B Sqn as a Reconnaissance Troop Leader (Coyote) and deployed for a third tour in Bosnia in 2002. On return, he was Battle Captain of B Sqn (Leopard C2) until posted to HQ First Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group in June of 2004, remaining there until Jan of 07. During his time at Brigade HQ, he worked in the G3 cell, completed Staff College and deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 in the Regional Command South HQ as SO2 J35 Plans.
Post-Tour, he returned to the Regiment, serving as Ops O until promotion to his current rank and assumption of command of Recce Sqn in Nov of 08. As OC Recce, he furthered the re-establishment of Recce capability within the Regiment and continued the integration of LAV TUA into Recce Sqn and the Corps.
As OC A Sqn, Maj McKenzie will deploy the Sqn to Afghanistan as part of the 1 RCR Battle Group in the Spring of 2010.
