A retired military officer who served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 30 years, he has participated in a number of armed conflicts and peacekeeping operations. He has commanded a variety of military units both in Canada and overseas, and was the Legal Advisor to the Canadian Pacific Fleet from 2004-2009. As a Senior Consultant for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) he regularly works with governments in West Africa to develop and implement counter-piracy and maritime crime legislation. He is currently a member of the United Nations Expert Working Group for University Education, an initiative of the Education for Justice Program.