David Lightburn

Politico-Military background, including 35-year military and diplomatic service, and extensive (16 years plus) experience in, and with, international organisations. Specialist in multi-functional peace operations, crisis management, civil-military-police relations and peace operations education and training. During the period 1987-2000, member of NATO staff, including principal member of NATO's Balkans Task Force and founder and Head of the Alliance's Peacekeeping Section; and, 2001-2004, Director External Affairs, Pearson Peacekeeping Centre, Canada. Currently, Peace Operations and Crisis Management Consultant and Senior Advisor to the Folke Bernadotte Academy, Sweden. National – Retired from the Canadian Forces (Colonel) in 1987 after 30 years service. Military career highlights include Regimental command, service with the United Nations in the Middle East, Defence Advisor to the Canadian Ambassador to NATO, and Director of Operational Readiness for the Canadian Forces. NATO Peacekeeping and Crisis Management – Principal contributor to all aspects of NATO peace operations including development of concepts, policies, political guidance, doctrine and lessons learned. Advisor to senior NATO political and military officials and to NATO specialist committees on all aspects of modern peace operations, and responsible for development of peace operations co-operation with NATO's partner countries (92-95). Founding member of the Alliance's Balkans Task Force: responsible for liaison at strategic and operational levels with other international organizations and NGOs; civil-military-police co-operation and coordination; monitoring and analysis of civil, political and humanitarian aspects of peace plan implementation; & development and implementation of a security co-operation program with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Principal contributor to the conceptual development of NATO's Multinational Specialized Force (police) in Bosnia. NATO Other – Responsible for coordination of NATO defence planning (87-92); involved in the initial conceptual development of both the Alliance's Partnership for Peace Program and NATO's Combined Joint Task Force initiative (93/94); development and implementation of the first NATO education courses for OSCE and Partner countries (92-94), as well as for Bosnia (97-2000) and Croatia (2000); and development and management of the Alliance's burden-sharing issue (88-90). Briefer in NATO's visits program, speaker in NATO's external speakers' program, and speech-writer for senior officials including the NATO Secretary General. Published articles on peace operations, crisis management and related topics. International – Widespread and current professional contacts with international and non-government organizations in the crisis management and peace operations fields, at both strategic and operational levels. Extensive experience in dealing with national delegations and international organizations, plus operational mission headquarters of international organizations, including senior political, military, police, humanitarian & other officials. Current - Senior Advisor to the Folke Bernadotte Academy (Sweden), Life-Member of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres, and independent Peace Operations Consultant.