Deanna Wilson was born and raised in Sackville, New Brunswick and began her military career in 2000 as a Naval Cadet attending the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. She graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree focused in Business Administration. She has been employed in several roles across the Defence Team, including serving as the Head of the Logistics Department onboard HMCS FREDERICTON and leading CFB Borden’s Ration and Quarters Support Services dynamic team. She is a graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Program and has a Masters of Defense Studies, where her researched focused on how embracing compassionate leadership could affect culture change within the Canadian Armed Forces, specifically how it would impact survivors of Military Sexual Trauma. In June 2020, she was awarded a Chief of Defence Staff and Deputy Minister Team Impact Award for her devotion to equality and inclusion and fostering strong interdepartmental and community relationships. She is also a trained Neuro Linguistics Practioner and is a practicing Reiki Master. Deanna is a proud mother of two young daughters and currently resides in Ottawa. She believes in the power of the mind and healing holistically as we journey through life and overcome the various challenges we all face.