Swimming

CAF SPORTS SUPPORT STAFF

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  Colonel S.A. Heer

  PATRON View Bio
  

  2023 - present

  Colonel S.A. Heer

  PATRON

  It is a great privilege for me to be the CAF Patron for Swimming. I am extremely excited to be able to give back to the sport and a program that was a great motivator for me throughout the earlier years of my life. 
  
  I swam competitively throughout my childhood and thoroughly enjoy all aspects of the sport and the camaraderie that I built being part of a competitive team. Swimming helped me build endurance, strength, and cardiovascular fitness. It allowed me to build my self-confidence, mental agility, and leadership skills. Also, there was no better lesson in self-discipline than early morning practices five times a week. The skills and attributes that I developed through competitive swimming have assisted me throughout my career in the CAF.
  
  I was also fortunate to have competed internationally with the CAF National Swim team and additionally have participated regionally with the CAF slo-pitch program. I can therefore provide firsthand knowledge of the benefits of the CAF Sports Program and its importance in helping CAF members develop humility, foster team cohesion, and maintain our fighting spirit necessary for mission success.
  
  I look forward to meeting and working with the swimmers, coaches, and staff across the country in the months ahead. See you on the pool deck soon!
   

  PREVIOUS PATRONS
  2019 - 2023	Major-General M.H.L. Bourgon
  2012 - 2018	Brigadier-General J.B. Ploughman
  2009 - 2011	Colonel J.J. McManus

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  Lieutenant (N) L.H. Dong

  CHIEF OFFICIAL View Bio
  

  2021 - present

  Lieutenant (N) L.H. Dong

  CHIEF OFFICIAL

  Lt(N) Dong is an avid swimmer who has held various roles within sport before joining the CAF. As a certified NCCP/Swimming Canada Age Group Coach and a NCCP/Swimming 101 Learning Facilitator; she has coached and developed athletes of all ages and skill levels, from children to masters programs.
   
  During her time as a team manager for Swim Ontario and Swim Canada, she helped bring the team to various domestic and international competitions including the Canada Games and the Youth Olympic Games.  After working in the sport for over a decade at all levels of competition, she is excited to bring her wealth of knowledge and experience to grow and develop the sport in role as the Chief Official.
  
  
   

  PREVIOUS CHIEF OFFICIALS
  2016 - 2021	Warrant Officier M. Neilson
  2009 - 2015	Captain G. King

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  Petty Officer, 2nd Class MARLEE PALMER

  INTERNATIONAL HEAD COACH View Bio
  

  2025-current

  Petty Officer, 2nd Class MARLEE PALMER

  INTERNATIONAL HEAD COACH

  PO 2 Palmer has been an avid competitive swimmer since the age of four. She trained and competed throughout her age group years, was a University of Waterloo varsity student-athlete, and continued to earn her coaching credentials along the way. After completing her Basic Military Qualification, she joined the CAF Swimming and Lifesaving team in 2010, gaining the unique opportunity to travel internationally to compete in swimming and lifesaving events. When PO 2 Palmer isn’t coaching on deck or training in the pool, she’s often in the water enjoying time with her two children.
  
  One of the highlights of her athletic career was representing Canada at the Military World Games in Brazil in 2011, where she was among the youngest competitors. As a Coach, one of her most rewarding experiences has been witnessing the progression and development of her athletes over the course of a season.
  PO 2 Palmer embraces an active lifestyle and firmly believes in the importance of physical activity as part of a holistic health journey. Whether through sport or recreation, she leads by example. She is excited to work with athletes from across the nation and is committed to contributing to the ongoing growth of the CAF International Swimming Team.
  
  You can contact PO 2 Marlee Palmer via email.
   
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  Major Serena Palmer

  INTERNATIONAL TEAM MANAGER View Bio
  

  2025-current

  Major Serena Palmer

  INTERNATIONAL TEAM MANAGER

  Maj Palmer’s passion for swimming began in early childhood, spending summers at the lake and competing from the age of six. A well-rounded athlete, she grew up between the pool and the hockey rink—two facilities that continue to shape her active lifestyle today.
  
  A graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada, Maj Palmer earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 2011 and began her Air Traffic Control career in Greenwood, with subsequent postings to Trenton, Colorado Springs, and Ottawa. She currently serves as the Air Traffic Control Flight Commander at 8 Wing Trenton.
  
  Maj Palmer has been a dedicated member of the CISM Swimming and Lifesaving Team since 2007 and has proudly represented Canada at the Military World Games in India, Brazil, and South Korea. She has also competed in multiple sports at the Regional and National levels, including floor hockey, soccer, triathlon, and squash. Her accomplishments have earned her several honours, including CAF Female Athlete of the Year, RCAF Female Athlete of the Year, and CAF Team of the Year (Hockey).
  
  After first stepping into the Team Manager role in 2020, Maj Palmer took a brief pause to focus on family life. Now, as a mother of two, she returns with renewed enthusiasm and a deep commitment to the growth of the program.
  
  Anyone interested in learning more about the CAF International Swimming program is encouraged to reach out to Major Palmer by email or your local PSP base Sports Coordinator.
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  Lieutenant-Colonel Dawn LeBlanc

  INTERNATIONAL DEPUTY TEAM MANAGER View Bio
  

  2025-current

  Lieutenant-Colonel Dawn LeBlanc

  INTERNATIONAL DEPUTY TEAM MANAGER

  LCol Dawn LeBlanc is a dedicated athlete and experienced military health leader with over two decades of service in both civilian healthcare and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). A national and international competitor in triathlon, Ironman, and military sports, she began her athletic journey in swimming, soccer, and skiing, and has remained deeply connected to sport ever since.
  
  Currently the Commanding Officer of 35 Field Ambulance and Senior Practice Leader for CAF Nurse Practitioners, LCol LeBlanc holds a Master of Nursing from Dalhousie University and an Honours BSc in Biology and Chemistry. Her career spans emergency and critical care, academic instruction, and military medicine, with deployments in Poland, the Dominican Republic, and CFS Alert.
  
  An active member of the CAF Swim Team, she also coaches youth soccer, leads local Girl Guide units, and mentors emerging leaders in every community where she’s posted. She has proudly supported athletes of all ages, instilling values of teamwork, resilience, and discipline.
  
  LCol LeBlanc has held senior positions with the Interallied Confederation of Medical Reserve Officers (CIOMR) and made history as part of the first all-female team to win the 2 RCR Bushman Competition—twice.
  
  In her role as Deputy Team Manager, she brings unwavering commitment and leadership to the CAF International Swimming Team’s pursuit of excellence on the world stage.