He graduated from le Collège Militaire Royal de St-Jean. Posted to CFB Montréal, he worked at Base Transport for two years and was subsequently appointed Executive Assistant to the Base Commander. Promoted Captain, he was posted to 4 Services Battalion Germany, and worked at the Logistics Operations Centre and the Supply and Transport Company. In 1990, he left Valcartier to put in place the National Defence Movement Co-ordination Centre in Ottawa. One year later, he was selected to attend the Command and Staff College in Toronto. Appointed Commanding Officer of 4 Canadian Forces Movement Control Unit, he participated to the deployment and redeployment of Canadian contingents in Somalia, ex-Yougoslavia, Cambodia as well as the closure of Cyprus and Canadian Force Europe. He also completed a Master Degree in Project Management. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, he returned to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa to become successively Director Land Requirements 6. Brigadier-General Bouchard was promoted to his current rank in May 2005 and was appointed J4 Materiel/Director General Logistics. In July 2006, he was appointed Deputy Commander and Chief of Operations and Plans.