Brigadier-General Lise Bourgon joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 1987 and received her pilot wings following graduation from College Militaire Royal de St-Jean in 1992. As a helicopter pilot, she was assigned to 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron in Shearwater, Nova Scotia where she deployed on numerous Royal Canadian Navy deployments. She also served as an instructor with 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron (OTS). Operational tours included Detachment Commander on HMCS Montreal during a 6 month tour and the Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander for OP IMPACT, the first Canadian female to serve in that position.