PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - The North American
Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command will experience a significant turnover of its senior Canadian officers this summer.
"We are proceeding with our review of Canada's defence policy and the transformation of the Canadian Forces to meet the defence challenges of the new century," said Canadian Defence Minister Bill Graham. "I am confident that (these) senior officers - are more than ready to meet those challenges."
Minister Graham's Feb. 14 announcement of the 2005 senior Canadian Forces promotions and appointments calls for the following three key positions in NORAD and USNORTHCOM to change hands:
Major-General Angus Watt will be appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, replacing Major-General Marc Dumais. Brigadier-General Brett Cairns will be promoted to Major-General and appointed Director of Combat Operations at NORAD Headquarters, replacing Watt.
Colonel Mark McQuillan will be promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Liaison Officer to United States Northern Command, replacing Rear-Admiral Jamie Fraser who will retire.
Colonel André Viens will be promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Vice Commander of Cheyenne Mountain Operations Centre, replacing Brigadier-General Jim Hunter who will retire.