Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col.) Luc Langevin

Lieutenant Colonel Luc Langevin always knew his future would include adventure and helping others. He was interested in joining the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), but did not know which path to choose. He also thought about becoming a dentist, but knew that being a civilian dentist would not satisfy his taste for adventure or the need to challenge himself. “During a career orientation class, I found out that there were dentists in the CAF. That was it; I had just found a career,” Luc recalls.

Luc put a lot of thought into his decision to join the CAF. He wanted to know more about the differences between civilian and military dentists and was faced with many questions. Is the practice of dentistry in the CAF similar to a civilian practice? Would the equipment be modern? Are the dental care standards comparable? Once he joined, he learned that dentists (or dental officers) in the CAF work in fully-equipped dental offices, which may be in temporary facilities or on a ship at sea. He also learned that the unique opportunities available as a dental officer make the CAF enticing to someone motivated to challenge themselves and learn new skills in different environments.

He has been deployed on two separate occasions, once to Afghanistan in 2008 and another to Leoghane, Haiti, after a catastrophic earthquake hit Port-Au-Prince in January 2010. Luc’s time in Haiti was like no other: “I was providing dental care to our troops and to the population in general. My deployment to Haiti is definitely the most challenging but rewarding experience I have had to date. It forced me to surpass myself in many ways.”

My deployment to Haiti is definitely the most challenging but rewarding experience I have had to date. It forced me to surpass myself in many ways

Dental officers are routinely given opportunities to develop and maintain clinical skills. Luc received his post-graduate specialty training in the United States Army while posted to Fort Hood, Texas, in 2005. Since joining the CAF, Luc has been posted throughout Canada and the United States. Luc’s postings have impacted his family in a positive way: “My children learned to quickly socialize, communicate efficiently in both official languages, and increased their awareness of cultural differences.” Luc and his family have learned, through their numerous postings, the capability to adapt to any situation.

Having been recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, he is now in charge of the Regional Dental Specialty Care Centre in Valcartier. It is one of the largest dental clinics in Canada with 60 personnel who provide the entire range of dental treatments to their patients. As a member of the Dental Senior Council, Luc also provides recommendations and advice to the Commanding Officer, regarding various topics affecting the CAF.

Reflecting on his life in the CAF, Luc is proud of the decision he made to opt for a career that fulfills him both personally and professionally. His words of praise for his decision, “Good job my friend; you could not have made a better choice for yourself!”