Western alumnus and Royal Canadian Regiment Colonel Geoff Parker was killed today in Afghanistan after an insurgent detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device within a convoy of vehicles in Kabul at approximately 8 a.m. Afghanistan time.
At the time of his death, Parker, 42, was in Kabul as part of a NATO team preparing for their upcoming mission. He is the highest-ranking member of the Canadian Forces to die in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002.
Colonel Geoff Parker
A Taliban suicide bomber attacked the convoy in Kabul, killing Parker, five American troops and 12 Afghan civilians. Parker was the seventh Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan this year and the 145th Canadian soldier killed as part of the mission since it began eight years ago.
Holding a Bachelor of Engineering Science (Electrical Engineering) degree from Western, Parker joined the Canadian Forces under the auspices of the Regular Officer Training Program in 1989 while at university.
Upon graduation in 1990, he completed his Infantry Officer training and was posted to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (1 RCR) in 1991 in London. Parker also holds a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master Degree in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College.
Parker was married with two young children, according to his military biography.