© All rights reserved. Canadian Forces badge reproduced with the permission of DND/CAF (2024) When a young Jean-Pierre Picard suffered from the poor outcome of a root canal therapy at age 13, he developed a fascination for dentistry that eventually led him down the path of becoming a dentist himself. Growing up in a non-military family, he still had a profound admiration and respect for the discipline that is represented by wearing a uniform, especially seeing his father in Royal Canadian Mounted Police attire. “I have always been proud and inspired by my father’s service as a police officer in the RCMP,” said BGen Picard. In 1990, during his second year of dentistry studies, the CAF offered him the opportunity to enroll in its Dental Officer Training Plan. He had no hesitation in joining the military and he went on to obtain his DMD degree from l’Université Laval in 1992. as well as operational-level professional technical issues and standards. He was promoted to Colonel in 2016 and assigned command of 1 Dental Unit, the sole organization responsible for all in‑garrison oral health treatment for the CAF in Canada and Europe. In 2018, BGen Picard was appointed Director of Dental Services, Chief Dental Officer of the CAF, and Head of the RCDC. “Throughout my journey in the Canadian Armed Forces, I’ve had the privilege of being part of a community that understands that it requires a collective effort to nurture its members and to develop them,” he says. “The community that we have in the RCDC, the Canadian Forces Health Services and in the CAF in general, the support received from the most inspiring individuals and remarkable team members, the exceptional mentors, colleagues, subordinates, and leaders have lifted me along this path,” says BGen Picard. In 2021, while remaining Chief Dental Officer, he was appointed Director General Health Services—Clinical Services, Since graduation, a steady promotion up the ranks within the CAF dental services has followed. His leadership journey began with his promotion to the rank of Major in 1998, when he assumed the position of Dental Detachment Commander at the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton, Ontario, culminating with his recent promotion to Brigadier General this past June. BGen Picard earned a Masters of Dentistry in Periodontics from the University of Manitoba in 2003 that led him to be assigned as the Regional Periodontist and Detachment Second-in-Command of the Specialty Care Centre at CFB Edmonton. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 2005, he served for many years as the RCDC Periodontics Practice Leader while successively commanding two RCDC Specialty Care Centres at CFB Edmonton and Halifax, then working as a Senior Staff Officer at the strategic headquarters of Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS), overseeing CAF national dental policy and programs. This was followed by serving as Deputy Commanding Officer of 1 Dental Unit, where BGen Picard oversaw day-to-day operations Throughout my journey in CAF, I’ve had the privilege of being part of a community that understands that it requires a collective effort to nurture its members and to develop them. (L. to r.) Major-General Marc Bilodeau (Surgeon General), BGen Picard (Director General Health Services —Clinical Services), Chief Warrant Officer Martin Bédard (Canadian Forces Health Services Group Chief Warrant Officer). BGen Picard received the second clasp for the Canadian Forces’ Decoration, recognizing over 32 years of exemplary military service. 25 Issue 2 | 2024 | Issues and People
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