Colonel (Col) Allan Ferriss joined the Canadian Forces in 1997 as a naval communications and information operator (NCI Op). In 1999, he transferred to the Regular Force to attend the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) and graduated in 2003 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
After completing communications and electronic engineering officer training, he was posted to the Canadian Forces Joint Signal Regiment (CFJSR) in Kingston. In four years at CFJSR, he held a variety of positions including training officer, technical maintenance officer, Afghanistan desk officer and deputy regimental operations officer. In 2007, Col Ferriss deployed to Camp Mirage and Kandahar as the CFJSR project lead for the Transportable Local Area Network (Unclassified) [TLAN(U)] upgrade project, where he led a team overseas to upgrade and migrate the TLAN(U) system. He deployed again in 2009 as a United Nations military observer (UNMO) in support of Operation (Op) SAFARI (Sudan) and played a pivotal role as the UNMO sector operations officer in the contingency planning for the Abyei Boundary Commission decision in August of that year. Upon returning to Canada, he was posted to the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics (CFSCE) as the adjutant, and in June 2010, he assumed the position of Officer Commanding Support Squadron, CFSCE.
After command, Col Ferriss was afforded the opportunity to return to RMC to complete his Master of Business Administration and the Joint Command and Staff Programme in Toronto. In 2014, he assumed command of 8 Air Communications and Control Squadron and oversaw the transition of the unit from 8 Wing to 2 Wing. In 2016, he was posted to Ottawa as executive assistant to the Chief of Staff (Information Management) and, shortly thereafter, was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and transitioned into the role of Director Information Management Project Planning and Control, followed by two years at the Royal Canadian Air Force Aerospace Warfare Centre in Trenton. In January 2019, he was deployed on Op PRESENCE (Mali) as the operations officer. Upon his return to Canada, Col Ferriss was posted as commanding officer of 77 Line Regiment. In 2021, he was promoted to his current rank and served as Director Air Domain Development within the Royal Canadian Air Force headquarters in his last assignment.
Col Ferriss holds Professional Engineers of Ontario and Project Management Professional designations.
