• Awarded on: December 3, 1995

Lieutenant-Colonel Austdal was the Chief of Operational Plans for the United Nations mission in Rwanda from May 1994 to June 1995. He represented the mission in discussions with all combatants, including the Interahamwe Death Squads, Gendarmerie and senior army officials on both sides. Lieutenant-Colonel Austdal often acted as a personal courier for the Force Commander, passing through the civil war's front lines daily, sometimes under mortar, artillery and small arms fire. His courage, devotion to duty, and disregard for his own safety produced outstanding operational results and brought great credit to the Canadian Forces.