For generations of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, “trailblazer” is more than a title it is a responsibility carried with courage, professionalism, and quiet determination. Lieutenant-Colonel (Retired) Anne Reiffenstein, CD, embodies that spirit. Over a 28-year career (1989–2018) as a field artillery officer, educator, and leader, she helped open doors in the Army’s combat arms, commanded at key levels, and used every posting as an opportunity to strengthen teams and develop people.
Service at a Glance
- Branch: Canadian Army, Field Artillery
- Years of service: 1989–2018 (28 years)
- Education: Bachelor of Military Arts and Science (RMC 2000); Master of Defence Studies (RMC, 2009); MBA (International Business) (Carleton University); Bachelor of Education – Adult Education (Brock University)
- Focus areas: Operational leadership, instruction and professional military education, leader development
Trailblazing Firsts
When Anne Reiffenstein joined the CAF in 1989, the path for women in the combat arms was still being carved often in real time, and often under a spotlight. She became one of the first women to graduate as an artillery officer and went on to achieve a series of “firsts” that reshaped what future generations could imagine for themselves.
- One of the first three women to graduate as an artillery officer.
- The first female major in the combat arms.
- The first Commanding Officer of a combat arms sub-unit.
Those milestones matter not because they are headlines, but because they represent sustained excellence earned through competence, credibility, and care for the people she led. Colleagues and protégés have described her as a mentor who combined high standards with practical support, helping others find their footing in demanding environments and reinforcing that belonging is built through leadership, not simply policy.
Leader, Instructor, and Lifelong Learner
Across operational and training appointments, LCol Reiffenstein became known for strengthening organizations through learning. She served in educational roles within the profession of arms, including time as an Assistant Professor at the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas an exceptional posting that reflected her credibility as both practitioner and scholar.
Her contributions also extended to writing and research. She published on Canada–U.S. homeland security and reflected candidly on the lived reality of Canadian Army gender integration sharing lessons learned to help the institution move forward with clarity and purpose.
Among the many people she influenced was Nichola Goddard, whom she commanded and mentored early in Goddard’s career. The relationship reflected a theme that runs through LCol Reiffenstein’s service: making space for talent to grow, and ensuring the next leader is even better prepared than the last.
Continuing the Mission After 2018
Retirement in 2018 did not mark an end to service it marked a shift in how she serves. Since leaving uniform, Anne has continued to contribute to leader development through teaching, facilitation, and the creation of educational podcasts on topics that matter to today’s profession of arms, including institutional leadership, cybersecurity, human security, and space operations.
She has also designed “serious games” to support learning in areas such as applied ethics and peace support operations, and she continues advanced study focused on judgement and decision-making in the digital age. In each project, her message is consistent: inclusive teams are stronger teams, and professional development is not an add-on it is operationally essential.
A Legacy of Firsts—and a Legacy of Others
It is easy to list LCol Reiffenstein’s firsts. The deeper story is what those firsts enabled: new expectations for who can lead, what excellence looks like, and how organizations change for the better when courageous professionals refuse to accept limits. Our alumni community is proud to celebrate Anne Reiffenstein not only for what she achieved, but for the standard she set and the leaders she helped shape along the way.