WINNIPEG, Canada – The Canadian NORAD Region passed with flying colors its biennial North American Aerospace Defense Command Regional Alert Force Evaluation in Winnipeg May 2.
The RAFE is one of a series of assessments that NORAD conducts to ensure each of its three regions – and their supporting units – remain capable and ready to conduct the vital NORAD mission in the defence of North America.
The evaluation, which consisted of a month-long planning phase followed by a live-fly exercise, concluded on May 2.
Maj.-Gen. Pierre St-Amand, commander of 1 Canadian Air Division and CANR, congratulated CANR’s Canadian and American personnel who participated in the evaluation.
“I am very proud to tell you that we surpassed the minimum standards by a wide margin, for what has turned out to be a very successful RAFE,” he said following the exercise.
Nine participants were recognized as superior performers for their hard work and diligence: Army Lt. Col. Loren Hollinger, Canadian Maj. Laura Laycock, Canadian Maj. Robert Murphy, Canadian Maj. John Cowen, Canadian Maj. Steve Neta, Canadian Maj. Michael Krak, Canadian Capt. Eugenia Zdorova, Canadian Capt. Francis Galway and Canadian Sgt. Norman Mayo. Each received the NORAD Inspector General’s coin for a job well-done.
Canadian Lt.-Gen. Alain Parent, deputy commander of NORAD, headquartered in Colorado Springs, attended the post-evaluation debriefing in Winnipeg. He praised everyone’s efforts that led to such a successful conclusion.
“I tell you; you guys make me very proud in Colorado Springs with the quality of work you put out every day,” he said. “This RAFE outcome is not a surprise to me at all.”