Brigadier-General Craig Hilton, OMM, CD

Senior Serving Strathcona
Brigadier-General Hilton was commissioned as a Direct Entry Officer in 1978 and joined Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) in August 1979 following completion of Armour Officer training.

During his nearly 13 years at Regimental duty, Brigadier-General Hilton held the full range of command appointments. He deployed twice with the Strathcona's to Cyprus, served as exchange officer with the 17th/21st Lancers, British Army of the Rhine, and was Officer Commanding B Squadron from 1991-93. Brigadier-General Hilton was appointed Commanding Officer of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) in February 1998 and held this position until June 2000.

From 2004-2006 Brigadier-General Hilton was appointed Commander of the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, Canada's national high-readiness training venue for joint and land forces.

Brigadier-General Hilton's staff employment includes SO3 Operations, HQ Prairie Militia Area 1984-87; G3, Land Force Western Area 1996-97; Chief of Staff, Land Force Western Area 1997-98; and Director of Staff, [NATO] Land Component Command-North 2000-03. He deployed to Afghanistan as Deputy Chief of Staff, HQ NATO/ISAF 2003-2004. From 2007-2009 Brigadier-General Hilton served as Canadian Forces Military Attaché and Assistant Defence Attaché at the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC.

Brigadier-General Hilton is a graduate of the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College, the UK All Arms Tactics Course, the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College and the United States Army War College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature from The University of Manitoba and a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the USAWC.

Brigadier-General Hilton's decorations include the Chief of the (German) Army Staff [Inspekteur des Heeres] Commendation, the Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation, and the General Campaign Star (ISAF). He was inducted into the Order of Military Merit in May 2007.

Brigadier-General Hilton was appointed Commandant of the Canadian Forces College in July 2009.