Ombudsman's Advisory Committee

LCdr David Arsenault enrolled in the Naval Reserve in June 1984 as a Boatswain at HMCS CATARAQUI in Kingston, ON . Following initial trades training, he spent time in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, sailing in twelve different ships during his sea-going service. In 1997 LCdr Arsenault transferred to HMCS CARLETON in Ottawa, and was subsequently appointed as Coxswain of CARLETON from 2001 until 2004. Afterwards, he served in National Defence Headquarter and with Naval Reserve Headquarters in staff and strategic leadership positions. At the completion of his term as CRES CWO in June 2020, LCdr Arsenault accepted a commission at his current rank under the Special Requirements Commissioning Program. He transferred back to the Royal Canadian Navy and is currently serving as the Project Manager for the Naval Reserve Centennial 2023 project.

In his civilian career, he joined the Public Service as a civilian with the Department of National Defence in 2008 and works as an Information Technology Project Manager within the Information Management Group. 

Major Dan Campbell, MMM, CD enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1990 as an Aero Engine Technician. Following graduation from the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering in Borden, Ontario, he was posted to 4 Wing Cold Lake. There, he served with the CF-18 Propulsion Facility and 416 Tactical Fighter Squadron, deploying to Aviano, Italy on Operation Deliberate Guard in support of CF-18 operations over the Former Yugoslavia. He went on to serve as a CF-18 maintenance instructor at 10 Field Technical Training Flight and later as a maintenance supervisor at 410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron.

Promoted to Warrant Officer in 2009, he was posted to the Canadian Forces Recruit School in Saint-Jean, Quebec, where he served as a Recruit Platoon Commander and General Military Training Instructor. In 2011, he completed both the NATO International Advanced Leadership Course in Lucerne, Switzerland and the Officer Professional Military Education Program (OPME).

In 2012, upon promotion to Master Warrant Officer, he was transferred to 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Edmonton, Alberta as the Senior Aircraft Maintenance Superintendent and Employment Training Officer. In December 2013, he deployed with Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Panay Island, Philippines as the Squadron Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Officer, supporting the Government of Canada’s humanitarian response to Typhoon Haiyan.

In 2014, he was inducted into the Order of Military Merit. Two years later, in 2016, he was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer and posted as the School CWO at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering in Borden, Ontario.

In 2018, CWO Campbell was appointed as the Wing Chief Warrant Officer at 14 Wing Greenwood. He assumed the role of 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region Chief Warrant Officer in 2021.  

In July 2025, he was promoted to Major and appointed as the Test and Evaluation, Maintenance Support Lead for the CF-35 Future Fighter Project, where he plays a key role in guiding the transition, evaluation, and sustainment of Canada’s next-generation fighter capability.

He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy in Montgomery, Alabama; the Strategic Security Studies Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto; the Executive Leadership Program, Keystone at the National Defence University in Washington, D.C.; and holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University.

Colonel (Ret’d) John Conrad is a published author, lecturer and a Reserve Brigade Commander in 3 Canadian Division in Western Canada. He has 32 years of experience in the Canadian Armed Forces regular and reserve components. In 2006, he served as Commanding Officer of the Canadian Logistics Battalion, the unit responsible for sustaining the Canadian Task Force in Southern Afghanistan.

Born and raised in Toronto Ontario, LCol Francesca Mastroeni joined the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service (RCChS) as a Roman Catholic Pastoral Associate in 2008. She began her military career in the Reserve Force, parading with the Governor General’s Horse Guards (GGHG) in Toronto until she took a class B in Petawawa and joined the Regular Force in 2009. In Petawawa, she served with several units, but was primarily supporting 3RCR, 2 Svc Bn, and the Chapel as the Chapel Life Coordinator. During this posting, she was deployed to the hospital in Landstuhl Germany, took part in numerous domestic taskings, including Op CADENCE, and then deployed on a TAV and full tour with the Canadian Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing on Op ATHENA. During her time with the Air Wing, she supported the Tactical Helicopter Squadrons, as well as those flying the Hercules and the UAVs. Throughout this period, she was the chaplain to the Role 3 Hospital in Kandahar.   

In 2014, she was posted to Halifax, where she immediately deployed on Op REASSURANCE with HMCS FREDERICTON. During her time in MARLANT, she sailed with various Halifax-class frigates and Kingston-class coastal defence vessels earning her the Sea Service Insignia. Upon her return from sailing, she was the Staff Officer to the Formation Chaplain, and accepted several taskings, including instructor at the Canadian Forces Chaplain School and Centre.

In 2017, LCol Mastroeni was posted to Borden where she was promoted to the rank of Major, took a year of second language training, and became the Base Chaplain. In 2022 she was posted to Ottawa to be the Staff Officer to the Chaplain General and in 2023 was promoted to her current rank of LCol, where she currently serves as Director of Services – 2 and is responsible for policy and recruiting for the RCChS in the Office of the Chaplain General.

LCol Mastroeni is blessed to have the encouragement of her large supportive family, especially her loving husband Michele, and her adorable daughter Miriam.

Lieutenant-General (Ret'd) Walter Semianiw spent 32 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. As he rose through the ranks, he notably served with the Privy Council Office, as the Commandant of the Canadian Forces College, as the Canadian Contingent Commander in Afghanistan, as the Chief Military Personnel and as the Commander of Canada Command. He was also an Assistant Deputy Minister at Veterans Affairs Canada for Policy, Communications and Commemoration. His extensive knowledge of military operations as well as the management of military personnel will undoubtedly be of tremendous insight to me and Council members.

Lisa Vaters began her career as a Science Instructor in undergraduate studies for various universities and colleges across the country. For the past ten years, she has worked for Military Family Services and is the Family Coordinator providing support to military families. She has experience in the areas of education, employment, family separation and reunion, health care, child care, Out of Canada services, second language training, bereavement and the Veteran Family Program. Lisa has been a spouse of a veteran for six years and has been the parent of a military member for three years when her son joined the military.