Career

Commissioner Coulter's professional career includes periods in the Canadian Forces, the private sector, and the Public Service of Canada.

His experience in the Canadian Forces included operational assignments where he was a fighter pilot, a flying instructor, and a member of the Canadian Forces Air Demonstration Team (“The Snowbirds”). His work in the Forces also included an exchange posting with the U.S. Air Force, a posting as Commander of a CF-18 squadron, and assignments at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.

In 1995, he was seconded from the Canadian Forces to the Privy Council Office where he served as Director of Operations in the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat.

He then accepted a position in the private sector in 1997 with Hill & Knowlton Canada where he served as Senior Vice-President and Director of Industrial Services.

Commissioner Coulter joined the Public Service in 1999 as Assistant Secretary for Planning, Performance and Reporting in the Treasury Board Secretariat. In 2001 he was appointed Chief of the Communications Security Establishment, and in September 2005 he was appointed Commissioner of the Correctional Service of Canada.

Education

Commissioner Coulter is a graduate of the Royal Military College (Bachelor of Engineering), the University of Regina (Bachelor of Arts), the University of Oklahoma (Master of Arts) and Carleton University (Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science).