Master Corporal Afton David’s career spans two rarely combined professions: infantry soldier and civilian lawyer. Whether advising on complex shipbuilding contracts or leading reconnaissance patrols, she represents modern service that challenges traditional intellectual and physical boundaries in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
David joined the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, an Army Reserve regiment, in 2016 and quickly distinguished herself, graduating top candidate on her recruit course. From the outset, she pursued demanding opportunities, temporarily leaving her legal career to complete military qualifications including Winter Warfare Course and the Infantry Section Commander Course. Her approach has remained consistent: competence first, credibility earned through performance.
In 2020 she took a leave of absence from her full-time civilian role as a lawyer at Kelly Santini LLP to attend the Basic Reconnaissance Patrolman Course, one of the Army’s most physically and mentally demanding three-month courses. Although she could not complete it for medical reasons, she fought to remain and audit the classes to continue learning.
Her challenge to physical stereotypes became visible through charity boxing. In 2019 she fought in the only women’s bout of Fight for the Cure, raising over $30,000 for cancer research. In 2023 she returned to competition at Clash of Cartier just seven months after giving birth, demonstrating that motherhood and combat arms service can coexist, and planning to compete again fifteen months after her second child.
In her present role as Senior Legal Counsel at Chantier Davie Canada Inc., David contributes to the National Shipbuilding Strategy, providing guidance on federal procurement tied to Canada’s naval capabilities.
She has also applied her expertise within the military sphere, serving as co-chair of a law and ethics working group for the International Society of Military Sciences, participating in the Commonwealth Military Justice Project in South Africa in 2023, and contributing to parliamentary discussions on military justice reform, including testimony before the Standing Committee on National Defence supporting amendments to Bill C-11, the military justice modernization legislation.
Within her regiment, she helped establish the Regimental Women’s Social Support Network, providing peer support and addressing inappropriate behaviour through early intervention and mentorship.
Her commitment to service extends beyond formal roles. She has cycled 250 kilometres for Wounded Warriors, volunteered legal services through Pro Bono Ontario, and rescheduled her honeymoon to instruct on a Rifle Section Commander course — a story she cites as responsibility to the team before
self.
David’s leadership philosophy emphasizes incremental progress: credibility is built through preparation, repetition, and showing up when it matters. Her advice to young women reflects that mindset — progress comes one step at a time, particularly when entering spaces where you are the first or the minority.
In 2024, Afton was awarded the Canadian Global Affairs Institute Women in Defence and Security (WiDS) Fellowship, a professional development opportunity supporting women in defence and security fields.
In 2026 she continues her Master’s Degree in Public Administration at the Royal Military College while preparing for future leadership appointments in both military and civilian capacities.
David was nominated by Ms. Lindsey Kettel, Esprit de Corps Women in Defence Award recipient (2021).
