Lieutenant Colonel RA (Ron) Alkema CD

Commanding Officer, 48th Highlanders of Canada – 2018-2021

Regimental Sergeant Major – 2002-2006

Lieutenant Colonel Ron Alkema joined the Canadian Army as a private in 1980. He served as a 48th Highlander in every rank from Private to Lieutenant Colonel. He is the only 48th Highlander to serve as both Regimental Sergeant Major and Commanding Officer. He trained throughout Canada, USA and with NATO forces in Germany. He deployed to Cyprus on Operation Snowgoose, to Sierra Leone on Operation Crocodile and to Afghanistan on Operation Athena. He retired after 42 years as a Highlander in 2022.

Awards

Date

Award

Citation

Jun-2008

Chief of Defence Staff Commendation (CDSC)

The Chief of Defence Staff commends Chief Warrant Officer Ronald Andrew Alkema Task Force Freetown for outstanding leadership and professionalism as a military advisor in Sierra Leone fron December 2006 to June 2007. Working with a Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces battalion, he coordinated and conducted training that enabled and maintained an elevated level of professionalism.