Lieutenant-Colonel R.D. Ryan Smid, MMM, MB CD

Commanding Officer

2015-2018

Lieutenant-Colonel Smid joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1990 through the Regular Officer Training Program. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies (Honours) in 1993 and a Master of International Trade in 2010 at the University of Saskatchewan. He is a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Program and the Infantry Dismounted Company Commander’s Course.

Lieutenant-Colonel Smid has served in both the First and Second Regiments Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in virtually every capacity culminating in command of F Battery between 2005 and 2007.

In addition to his Regimental service, he completed staff tours at the Joint Headquarters in Kingston, ON, the Strategic Joint Staff in Ottawa, Ontario, and Land Forces Western Area Headquarters in Edmonton, AB. Over the course of his Regular Force career, he completed operational tours in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan.

In 2012, Lieutenant-Colonel Smid transferred to the Reserves and was appointed Battery Commander of 61 Field Battery in 20th Field Regiment in Edmonton, AB. In 2013, he transferred to 7th Toronto Regiment and was responsible for standing up 15 Lightfighter Battery which he commanded for two years. He commanded 48th Depot Battery as part of Reserve Summer Training in 2014 and 2015. He most recently filled the position of Second-in-Command, 7th Toronto Regiment until being promoted to his current rank and taking command of the 7th Toronto Regiment, RCA on 29 Nov 2015.

Lieutenant-Colonel Smid is a recipient of the Medal of Bravery and is invested in the Order of Military Merit in the rank of Member. He met his beautiful wife, Lisa, in Shilo, MB where they married in 2000. Together they have two wonderful daughters, Tatyana and Natalya. He is an avid runner (but getting slower), a voracious reader of non-fiction (but appetite waning), and a loyal (but usually disappointed) Roughrider fan.

LCol Smid retired from the Canadian Forces in the fall 2018 after commanding the Regiment for almost 3 years and almost 28 years in uniform. He currently resides in Fort Erie, Ontario and is the Headmaster of a private military academy.

v.2022