Introduction

When Colonel Eric Andresen walked into a Montreal recruiting office at 19 years old, it was mostly to prove a point. His older brother, a cadet, had dared him to do it—and Andresen bit.

“Six months later I was in the Regular Force,” he says with a grin.

What started as a dare became a 35-year career spanning continents, conflicts and command positions—a life of military service shaped by grit, intellect and serendipity.

A "huge beast" of an organization

Today, Andresen is stationed at U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) in Tampa, Florida. It is one of the largest and most complex multinational military headquarters in the world.

With more than 4,000 staff from 45 nations, USCENTCOM oversees  US interests in some of the most volatile regions on the planet, including Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. For the past three years, Andresen has served as Canadian Senior National Representative. For the past two years, he has been Chairman of the Coalition—a role that requires both strategic insight and diplomacy.

“It’s a huge beast of an organization,” he says. “But Canada has earned its place at the table. Our soldiers are highly regarded for their professionalism and competence.” As the senior Canadian representative at CENTCOM, Andresen liaises with allies and shares intelligence. He ensures Canadian interests are upheld in a shifting geopolitical landscape. “We’re not embedded,” he clarifies. “We work for Canadian Joint Operations Command—but close collaboration is essential when Canadian lives and assets are involved.”

He’s seen history unfold from the inside: the fall of the Syrian regime, the rise and containment of ISIS under Operation Inherent Resolve, Iranian proxy threats from the Houthis and, most recently, the fallout from the October 7 crisis in Israel and Gaza.

“Our participation in major world events is significant, even when it flies under the radar,” he says. “We have a strong sense of purpose.”

Bucking predictions

Born in Montreal and proud of his roots, Andresen bucked predictions early in his career. He spent a decade as a non-commissioned officer (NCO). Then, he made the leap to the Royal Military College—despite being told he’d “max out at Major” due to his NCO background. “In my mind I thought, ‘we’ll see about that,’” he says. Now a Colonel, with postings that include Afghanistan, Australia and the United States, his record speaks for itself.

High-stakes coordination

During his deployment to Afghanistan, he supported critical airspace coordination in the control centre. He also volunteered at local police substations after Canadian troops were injured in 2008. “You do what needs to be done,” he says. “That’s the job.”

Next, it was off to Canberra, Australia, where he earned his second master’s degree through the Australian Defence Strategic Studies program and served as an instructor at their War College.

But when the next posting came up, his teenage kids made a clear request: somewhere near Disney World.

They got their wish.

His family’s next chapter

In the end, he convinced The Legion’s Dominion Executive Council to provide major funding. They committed to building Canada’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as their Millenium Project. “What was important was that we were determined and we agreed that no matter how we were going to do it, the Legion was going to develop a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and bring our soldier home,” Daly states with the same determination that must have rung in his voice in 1997.

They were 15 and 19 when the family moved to Florida. His son enjoyed the roller coasters and finished high school in Tampa. His daughter, who had graduated in Australia, returned to Canada to attend the University of New Brunswick, but flew down to enjoy her school holidays at the theme parks.

Now they’re both University of New Brunswick students so their parents are going to visit them for a change.

“They’re grown now,” he says. “And it’s time for the next chapter.”

That chapter begins back in Canada. Andresen and his wife, Kelly, are moving to Fredericton, New Brunswick—close to where she grew up in Chatham.

“Maritimers are the best people in the world,” he says. “I can do small-town life—as long as I can hop on a plane to Montreal now and then.”

But his own military journey isn’t quite done. In August, he’ll head to Ukraine as the Defence Attaché’s third-in-command at the Canadian Embassy—a critical posting in the heart of a warzone.

“It’s one more year, one more mission,” he says. “I’m still physically able. And the fire’s still burning.”

His wife has made her position clear: “This is my last move,” she told him.

He laughs. “It does take a toll on the family.” But for Andresen, the chance to serve—and to represent Canada on the world stage—still feels like a privilege.

“I’ve seen and done things I never could’ve imagined. It’s been incredibly rewarding to be part of a multinational force committed to peace and stability—even when we don’t always agree.”

Asked what he tells Americans when they joke about Canada being the 51st state, Andresen’s tone shifts. “I tell them it’s deeply offensive. And I remind them that after 9/11, it was Canada (along with other NATO countries) that invoked Article 5 and came to their aid. That matters.”

As the Colonel wraps up a career that spans four decades, his legacy is one of quiet confidence, hard-earned respect and unwavering belief in the values the Canadian military upholds.

With courage, integrity and loyalty, Erik Andresen is leaving his mark. He is a Canadian Armed Forces member.  Discover more stories.