Biography - Canadian Forces Health Services Reserve Non-Commissioned Member Advisor

Chief Warrant Officer R.K. Hassan, CD

Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Richard (Rick) Hassan is the Canadian Forces (CF) Health Service Reserve Non-Commissioned Member Advisor (HS Res NCM Advisor) and currently assigned as the Aeromedical Evacuation Coordinating Officer (AECO) for the CF. In addition to these duties he is a Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Operator with Land Force Western Area and an evaluator for the NATO Tactical Evaluation (TACEVAL) program.

CWO Hassan joined the CF Reserves in 1988 as a Medical Assistant (Med A) with 17 Medical Company (now 17 Field Ambulance (Fd Amb)). Throughout his career, he has been active in a number of clinical, instructional and leadership roles that have helped round out his experience.

In 1990-1991 he was employed as a Med A on the Surgical Ward and Department of Primary Care at CF Hospital Europe in Lahr, Germany. Additionally, he has filled the roles of ward master, Unit Medical Station supervisor and has coordinated local specimen and data collection as a part of a national Hanta Virus study. He has also worked independently as a medic in many isolated locations for the Mountain Operations Instructors’ Course.

The Domestic Operations he has participated in include: Manitoba Floods 1996 (Senior Med A); Op ASSISTANCE (Manitoba Floods 1997 - Platoon Warrant Officer); Op GRIZZLY (G8 Summit (2002) - Battle Group Liaison Officer to 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron); and, Op LUSTRE (Manitoba Floods 2011 – Liaison Officer).

In 2002, CWO Hassan deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina as the CIMIC Operations Warrant Officer and Company Sergeant Major. In 2005 he deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan as a CIMIC Operator on Roto 0 (Op ARCHER). His involvement with CIMIC has extended to include many working groups to develop a national CIMIC capability. Internationally, he has been an instructor and facilitator on NATO Tactical CIMIC Courses in Italy, Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Upon return from Kandahar in 2006, CWO Hassan worked in the 2 Health Services Group Headquarters’ Operations and Plans Cell at 1 Canadian Air Division. He continues to be employed at the Air Division as the AECO with the RCAF Division Surgeon’s Office.

CWO Hassan was promoted to his present rank in Nov 2007 when he was appointed as the Regimental Sergeant Major for both 16 Fd Amb and 17 Fd Amb. He completed the Chief Qualification Course in April, 2008 and in June of the same year was selected to attend the NATO Senior NCO Leadership Course in Oberammergau, Germany. In May 2010, CWO Hassan was presented the Service Medal of the Most Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem and in July he was awarded the Chief of the Air Staff Commendation in recognition for his role as AECO in support of Task Force Afghanistan, Op UNIFY (Hurricane Gustav relief operation) and Op HESTIA (Haiti Earthquake relief operation).

Appointed to his present position by the Surgeon General in Sep 2011, CWO Hassan is the senior HS Reserve NCM in the CF and a member of the Chief Reserves.

CWO Hassan is married to Dr. Jennifer Laforce, a clinical psychologist with the University of Manitoba. In his spare time CWO Rick Hassan loves to travel, collects a little Canadian medical militaria, occasionally plays golf and rarely scuba dives.