A retired Canadian Army colonel with a distinguished service record has been fined and formally reprimanded following a court martial conviction for making a highly inappropriate remark about a senior-ranking British officer during a NATO training exercise.
Colonel Rob Kearney (Ret.), 60, pleaded guilty to one count of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline after making a derogatory comment about British Brigadier General Irena Dzisiewska. The incident occurred during a NATO command post exercise in Romania in October 2023 and was overheard by two other officers, one of whom filed a formal complaint.
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Though Brig. Gen. Dzisiewska was not present at the time of the remark, a British officer who witnessed the exchange reported the incident to Canadian military authorities. A U.S. Army officer also testified that he heard Kearney use an offensive term in reference to the British general.
The incident reportedly followed a tense exchange during briefings, where Dzisiewska had criticized Kearney and his team’s performance. According to testimony, a second round of critique later that day appeared to lead to Kearney’s inappropriate comment made in the privacy of his tent.
Following a military investigation, the Canadian court fined Kearney $3,000 and issued a severe reprimand—a formal censure that can significantly impact an officer’s legacy, even post-retirement. Kearney had originally faced five separate counts under Section 129 of Canada’s National Defence Act, related to incidents between 2021 and 2023, but ultimately pleaded guilty to one charge.
Kearney retired from the Canadian Army in 2012 after over 30 years of service but later returned as a reservist in senior staff and advisory roles. Most recently, he served as Assistant Chief of Staff at NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in the United Kingdom before being sent back to Canada.
Throughout his career, Kearney received 15 military decorations, including both Canadian and U.S. Meritorious Service Medals for his contributions in Afghanistan.
While some may view the disciplinary action as severe for a private comment made in frustration, others stress the importance of professionalism and accountability—especially within multinational military operations where cohesion and mutual respect are critical to mission success.
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