Base Commander
On behalf of the military and civilian personnel of the Kingston Garrison, welcome to the best base in Canada! If you are newly, or soon to be posted to Kingston, I hope that your time here will be personally and professionally rewarding for you and you family. If you are browsing this site to learn more about the services and units located at CFB Kingston, you will find a wealth of information on the history and Kingston, the various units stationed here, as well as information on the various services and facilities that are available.
The mission of CFB Kingston is to provide the highest possible standard of support services in order to allow lodger units to focus on their primary missions. Through these support services, we enable over 35 lodger units to contribute to the operational outputs of the Canadian Forces, domestically and overseas.
We have a great Military Family Resource Centre that offers a range of programs tailored to our community needs; first class Sport and Recreation facilities, and numerous clubs and activity groups that are sure to give you an opportunity to seek out new hobbies, interests and friendships. I hope that when your tour in Kingston is complete, you will leave thinking not only of your job experiences, but also with fond memories of a complete life experience in our active and diverse community.
Base Commander
Colonel S.M. Cadden, CD
Base Commander's Biography
Colonel Stephen Cadden joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1984, and attended the College Militaire Royal de Saint Jean, where he graduated in 1989 with a bachelors degree in Military and Strategic Studies. On completion of his Armour training in December 1989, he was posted to the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) in Lahr, Germany. In 1994 he joined The Royal Canadian Dragoons, where he subsequently served as a squadron commander, commanding officer and as Regimental Colonel.
Colonel Cadden has served on Leopard1 C1 and C2 tanks, as well as on Lynx, M113 and Coyote reconnaissance vehicles. He has served tours of duty in Germany, Jamaica and Afghanistan, and participated in CF relief efforts during the 1998 Ice Storm, the 2010 G8/G20 Summits, and a number of domestic operations in Ontario. His extra-Regimental employment includes tours as the Base Personnel Administration officer in Petawawa, Squadron Commander at the Royal Military College of Canada, on the Land Staff in Ottawa and as Chief of Staff of LFCA/JTFC.
Colonel Cadden has earned a Masters of Defence Studies degree and a Master of Arts degree in Military Security and Defence Policy, both from the Royal Military College of Canada. In 1992, he was lucky enough to marry Ms Jennifer Lawton from Montreal. In 1997 their son Mitchell was born, coinciding with a surge in the stock price of the Lego Company. Colonel Cadden has completed the National Security Programme at CFC in Toronto, and was appointed Commander, CFB Kingston, on 9 June 2011.
