Neil Thompson

Neil had a long and distinguished career in the Canadian Forces with more than 35 years in various command and staff positions in the defence, civilian and international intelligence communities. These included a secondment to the Privy Council Office and a Branch Chief on the International Military Staff at NATO Headquarters. He was the first Commanding Officer of the Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Centre and was a Defence Attaché in the United Kingdom. He completed his career as the Director of Geospatial Intelligence where he was responsible for all aspects of Geospatial Intelligence in the Canadian Armed Forces. In that capacity he was responsible for Military Mapping, Charting, Imagery (from space based, UAVs and handheld) and all Meteorology Services for the Forces. Neil was also one of the founding members of the Allied System for Geospatial-Intelligence (ASG), the Five Nation group formed by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.

During his career, he was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Military Merit. He also received the Owen Kenyon Award and the United States of America National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Medallion for Excellence and awards from the US Defense Intelligence Agency and other US Intelligence Agencies. Since he retired, Neil has remained active in the international Geospatial Community