The Trailblazer Podcast celebrates the accomplishments and milestones of notable alumni of Canada’s Military Colleges and provides a platform for them to share their stories and contribute to building future leaders for Canada and the world.
Graduating from the Royal Military College of Canada in 2013 with a degree in Civil Engineering, Jaemok was commissioned as a Combat Engineer Officer and quickly took on challenging roles at home and abroad. He deployed on Operation UNIFIER in Ukraine and Operation REASSURANCE in Latvia, leading engineering teams tasked with critical infrastructure projects. At home, he served as Personal Assistant to the Commander of 3rd Canadian Division and Operations Officer of 39 Canadian Brigade Group. Today, he is Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commander of United Nations Command in South Korea.
Jaemok’s path to leadership began far from the spotlight. Born in South Korea and raised in a small town on Vancouver Island, he learned early the value of hard work, sacrifice, and giving back from watching his father’s tireless efforts to make a better life for his family.
He credits RMC with teaching him resilience through challenge. From late nights in the lab to early-morning parades, “the bonds you form through shared hardships become a foundation of trust and teamwork that lasts a lifetime,” he says.
Leadership, Jaemok explains, is rooted in relationships. “Trust is the foundation. You can’t lead without it. And empathy is a form of leadership too,” he reflects.
For Jaemok, RMC’s networks endure long after graduation. “Some of my closest friendships started there. Those connections have supported me through deployments and postings,” he says. “I love being able to talk to these guys and girls about the challenges that I’m facing in the CAF because they understand – they’ve through similar challenges. And we can celebrate successes together.”
Jaemok’s guidance to current Officer Cadets is grounded in his own experiences. They should lean on each other and stay connected. “The friendships and connections you form now will carry you throughout your career.” Moreover, he urges those still at the College to remember that the first and second year Officer Cadets are watching them: “Lead by example and make space for the next generation to thrive.”
Reflecting on RMC’s motto, he concludes, “Truth. Duty. Valour. These words guided me as a cadet and continue to shape my decisions every day in the Canadian Armed Forces. They are more than words—they are principles to live by.”
From the rugby field to multinational operations, Jaemok Lee exemplifies leadership built on resilience, service, and trust—an example for the next generation of Canadian Armed Forces officers.
To listen to the RMCAA Trailblazer podcast with Jaemok Lee, click here.