Senior Officer Biography
BRIGADIER-GENERAL PUTT T.E. , MSM, CD
DEPUTY COMMANDER
Brigadier-General Thomas Putt enrolled in the King's Own Calgary Regiment in 1976 where he was employed as a crewman in a reconnaissance squadron until 1979. As a young reservist he participated in his first peacekeeping mission in the Middle East before being commissioned through the RESO program in 1980.
In 1982 Brigadier-General Putt transferred to the Regular Army and was posted to regimental duty with the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise's) in Petawawa, Ontario. He served in several regimental appointments including that of a reconnaissance and tank troop leader. He was promoted to Captain in 1985 and thereafter filled several staff and line positions. In 1988, Brigadier-General Putt was posted to Lahr, Germany where he was appointed Battle Captain of a tank squadron and attended the Army Staff College during the final years of the Cold War.
In 1992, he was posted to Army Headquarters in St Hubert, Quebec where he filled a number of operational staff positions before being promoted to Major in 1995. That same year, Brigadier-General Putt was posted to the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadian) in Edmonton, Alberta where was employed as the Officer Commanding both a tank squadron and headquarters squadron. Following regimental duty, he attended the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College in Toronto for one year. Thereafter, he filled operational staff positions at Land Force Western Area Headquarters.
In 1999, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed the Base Commander of Canadian Forces Training Centre Wainwright. In 2001 Brigadier-General Putt retired from the Regular Army, transferred back to the Reserves and moved into the private sector. He assumed command of the South Alberta Light Horse (RCAC) in 2003 in Edmonton, Alberta.
In 2005, he was promoted to Colonel and appointed as Deputy Commander Task Force Afghanistan, Rotation 1. Brigadier-General Putt was decorated with the Meritorious Service Medal for his performance in Afghanistan. Following his return from the mission in August 2006 he returned to 41 Canadian Brigade Group, which he commanded from 2009 to 2010. In the fall of 2010, Brigadier-General Putt became the Deputy Commander of 1st Canadian Division HQ. On 1 June 2011, he became the Deputy Commander of Land Force Doctrine and Training System in Kingston, Ontario.
Brigadier-General Putt is a graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada.
