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Col Matthew Snider
CIDP Visiting Defence Fellow
Colonel Matt Snider joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1998 in the Royal Canadian Artillery. After working through the ranks to Sergeant, he transferred to the Air Force as a pilot. Most of his career has been spent at 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron, up to and including Squadron command. Deployment experience includes Afghanistan, Iraq, North Africa, and the Caribbean. He also served three years on exchange with the Royal Air Force, including as Chinook detachment commander in the Falkland Islands. His staff experience includes roles at 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters in Fleet Readiness and NORAD & United States Northern Command working in Operations.
Commodore Michael Barefoot
Commodore Barefoot began his career as an Intelligence Officer in 2001 and has since held key operational and strategic roles in Canada and the United States. Notably, he served as Senior Intelligence Analyst for the Afghanistan Intelligence Response Team, deploying twice to Afghanistan during Operation Athena (2005) and Operation ARCHER (2006). From 2008 to 2011, he led the Afghanistan Team within the U.S. Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, earning the U.S. Army Meritorious Service Medal for his contributions.
His senior appointments include leadership roles within Canadian Forces Intelligence Command and the Naval Staff Headquarters, as well as serving as J2 for Canadian Joint Operations Command and Special Advisor to the Chief of Defence Staff. Cmdre Barefoot has commanded multiple intelligence organizations, including the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command Headquarters, the Canadian Forces School of Military Intelligence, and the Canadian Forces Intelligence Group. Promoted to Commodore in 2025, he now serves as Commandant of the Canadian Forces College.
Commandant, Canadian Forces College