Lieutenant Colonel Sandi Banerjee, CD is a native of Toronto, Ontario. He joined The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada in 1987 while attending the University of Toronto and commissioned in 1989, following Officer Phase training at the Combat Training Centre in Gagetown NB.

In civilian life, LCol Banerjee is the Chief Operating Officer of Hidi Rae Consulting Engineers, a multi-national, multi-disciplinary firm headquartered in Toronto.

LCol Banerjee has served in a variety of appointments including; reconnaissance and rifle Platoon Commander; OC 60^th, Buffs and Victoria Coy; and Adjutant. In 2004 he was appointed Deputy Commanding Officer, a position he held until his deployment in Nov 2006 as Deputy Commander, OP SAFARI – Task Force Sudan. In July 2007 he was awarded the United Nations Commendation for Meritorious Service in Darfur and Sudan, and the UN Force Commanders Commendation for UNMIS (2006-07).

Upon his return to Canada he was appointed Senior Standards Officer at the Canadian Forces College (CFC). In 2008 he was selected to attend the United States Marine Corps Joint Command & Staff College in Quantico, where he graduated with a 98% average. In 2009 he returned to CFC as a member of the Faculty.

His service in Afghanistan includes duties with Combined-Joint Task Force 6 as Operational Plans Officer for Kandahar City and Chief of Governance Branch at 6^th (UK) Division, HQ Regional Command (South), for which he was awarded the Canadian Expeditionary Forces Command Commendation. He was also awarded the Canadian Expeditionary Force Commanders Commendation for Task Force Afghanistan (2011) and the Commander 6 (UK) Division and Commander CEFCOM coins for service with NATO Regional Command South (2010).

He was appointed The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Commanding Officer on 14 September 2014 and on 23 September 2017 was succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel Frank D. Lamie, CD.

In June 2017 he was named as Canada’s representative to NATO’s Defence & Security committee at CIOR and September also commenced duties as Directing Staff at the Army Command and Staff College in Kingston.

Extra regimentally, LCol Banerjee has worked for the Canadian Defence Academy, the CF Recruiting, Education and Training Systems Command and on two domestic response operations with 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group. He is a graduate of Marine Corps University (Virginia), the Peace Support Training Centre (Kingston), the CF School of Management (St Jean), the UN Staff & Operations Officer Programmes (Slovenia and Geneva), The NATO School (Oberammergau), the African Centre for Conflict Resolution (Kenya), the Canadian Land Command & Staff College (Kingston) and the Canadian Forces College (Toronto).