Chief Warrant Officer Kevin J. Mathers is the seventh Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) for Allied Command Operations (ACO) at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). He serves as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe's (SACEUR) principal advisor on matters affecting troops throughout the Alliance.
Additionally, he provides the ACO Commands and SHAPE staff with professional development opportunities, recommendations and engagement. In addition, he provides mentorship to the Alliance's non-commissioned and junior officers. As CSEL, he ensures the NATO NCO Bi-Strategic Command Strategy and Guidelines are in harmony with the SACEUR's command priorities; scrutinizes existing policies, procedures, and responsibilities for all operational organizations within ACO. In collaboration with Allied Command Transformation and the NATO CSEL community he ensures Allied educational institution's courses are current, relevant and available to service members.
CWO Kevin J. Mathers joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1985 and upon graduation from Crewman training, was posted to the Lord Strathcona's Horse (RC) in Calgary. In 1988, he deployed to Cyprus and throughout the next 30 years, he took part in missions in Golan Heights, Bosnia and twice in Afghanistan. In 2011, he was invested in the Order of Military Merit and later that same year he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his contributions and performance of his duties as the Reconnaissance Squadron Sergeant Major for Task Force 3-09 in Afghanistan.
Over 35 years of service, he has been posted 16 times and has served in all three Canadian Armour regiments, Directorate of Military Careers as part of the Crewman Career Management team, LFCA (TC) Meaford, Canadian Forces Training Development Centre CSM Borden and the Armour School in Gagetown. Upon promotion to CWO in 2013, he attended RMC Kingston for a full year of studies as part of the NCM Executive Professional Development Program before being appointed Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the Armour School the following summer. Post RSM he occupied Key appointments as the Senior Army Mentor at CMR St Jean and recently completed a tour as the Chief Instructor of the CWO Robert Osside Institute.
In his most recent role, he served as the CSEL of NATO's Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) based in Izmir, Turkey from 2019 until 2022. In preparation for his role at LANDCOM, Chief Warrant Officer Mathers completed the NATO Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course as well as the Keystone Joint Senior Enlisted Command course in Washington DC.
A proud father of 2 children, and grandfather to four grandsons and two granddaughters. His wife Chrissy is a retired 31 year veteran of the Canadian Navy.