Brigadier-General D.B. Cochrane, MSM, CD
Commander of the National Cadet and Junior Canadian Ranger Support Group

Brigadier-General D.B. (Dave) Cochrane grew up in Toronto, enjoying five years as an air cadet, prior to enrolling into the Canadian Armed Forces in 1982. He received a baccalaureate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario in 1986.

Following receipt of his air navigator (ACSO) wings, BGen Cochrane spent his flying career with 426 and 436 squadrons in Trenton in the tactical and strategic airlift roles on the CC-130 Hercules. During these postings, he participated in several deployments including Gulf War I, Kurdish re-supply airdrop missions in northern Iraq, and Operation Airbridge in Sarajevo.

BGen Cochrane commanded 426 Transport and Training Squadron in Trenton from 2006 to 2009 and subsequently deployed, for six months, as Commanding Officer Theatre Support Element at Camp Mirage in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Upon return in 2010, BGen Cochrane assumed command of 8 Wing/CFB Trenton, where he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, thanks to the great work by the 8 Wing/CFB Trenton men and women, in their support of the Search and Rescue mandate and the outstanding airlift support to Operation Hestia (Haiti), Op Mobile (Libya) and Op Athena (Afghanistan).

A graduate of the Aerospace Systems Course, BGen Cochrane enjoyed several staff tours at NDHQ, most memorable of which, being in the Directorate of Air Requirements where he was Project Director for the Airlift Capability Projects, focusing on the successful acquisition of CC-177 GlobeMaster and CC-130J Hercules aircraft fleets.

BGen Cochrane is a graduate of the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College Course in Toronto, and hold a Masters Degree in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College. BGen Cochrane graduated in 2012 also from the year-long Australian Defence College, Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies Course.

Upon return to Canada in January 2013, BGen Cochrane assumed the position of Senior Advisor to the National Security Advisor in the Privy Council Office in Ottawa. Promoted to Brigadier-General in 2015, he assumed the position of Commander 2 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg overseeing individual training and education for RCAF officers and NCMs. BGen Cochrane resides in Ottawa where he now assumed command of the National Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers Support Group. In his spare time, BGen Cochrane enjoys watching the Leafs, Senators and now the Winnipeg Jets hockey teams and enjoys a friendly round of golf.