Meritorious Service Cross

• Awarded on: February 23, 2012
• Invested on: June 22, 2012

While deployed to Afghanistan from September 2009 to September 2010, Major-General Ward displayed strategic leadership and contributed to the development of the Afghan National Police. Working with the Minister of the Interior, he created a culture of collaboration that lessened bureaucracy, increased transparency and brought Afghan-led efforts to the fore. In particular, he was instrumental in raising the standard of new recruits and of the recruitment process as a whole. Major-General Ward’s leadership contributed significantly to improving security and stability in Afghanistan, and brought credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada.