Meritorious Service Decorations - Military Division
Meritorious Service Medal
Awarded on: 2014-02-28
Invested on: 2014-10-03
While deployed to the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan from October 2012 to July 2013, Lieutenant-Colonel MacDonald was the chief of Staff of the Joint Task Force Afghanistan, and the commanding officer of the National Command and Support Element. He was able to maintain situational awareness of over 900 widely dispersed Canadian personnel for whom he ensured the proper employment, protection, equipment and support in order for them to excel at their jobs. Lieutenant-Colonel MacDonald’s leadership and operational vision were integral to Canada’s success in Afghanistan.