17 Wing Winnipeg, Manitoba –
Major-General Christian Drouin today assumed command
of 1 Canadian Air Division (1 CAD) from Major-General David Wheeler at a
ceremony held at 17 Wing Winnipeg, Manitoba. Lieutenant-General Michael Hood,
Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, presided over the ceremony.
“Let me say how fortunate and proud I am to return to
the home of Royal Canadian Air Force operations in Winnipeg,” said Major-General
Christian Drouin, in-coming Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division and Canadian
NORAD Region. “1 Canadian Air Division and the 12 RCAF wings under it serve a
critical role in providing air power in support of all Canadian Armed Forces
operations. I look forward to this amazing opportunity to command such a great
institution and the dedicated men and women in its service.”
As Commander of 1 CAD, Major-General Drouin also
assumes command of the Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) and the Joint Forces Air
Component Command for the Canadian Joint Operations Command.
Before this appointment, Major-General Drouin was the
Deputy J5 Strategy, Policy and Plans at the North American Aerospace Defense
Command and U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.
Major-General Wheeler will lead the Canadian Armed Forces Targeting
Implementation Initiative at the National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.
“Responsibility
for all RCAF operations is a huge responsibility and 1 Canadian Air Division
has thrived under Major-General Wheeler’s leadership,” said Lieutenant-General Michael Hood, Commander Royal Canadian Air
Force. “Notwithstanding a high tempo of operations here at home and abroad,
General Wheeler kept the RCAF flying in formation with our joint partners and
allies. As Major-General Drouin takes command, I know that we will continue to
project the air power needed to meet RCAF’s challenges worldwide.”
“I
thank the airmen and airwomen of 1 Canadian Air Division and the Canadian NORAD
Region for their sacrifices and outstanding contributions these past two years,”
said Major-General David Wheeler, out-going Commander 1 Canadian Air
Division and Canadian NORAD Region. “They are the backbone of our success,
allowing us to fulfill our duties to our partners and allies and help the RCAF
project the reach and air power needed to support our operations around the world.
I also want to thank my family for their unrelenting commitment and sacrifice.
I’m pleased to hand this command over to Major-General Drouin and I leave this
post with complete confidence our people are in highly capable hands.”
Quick
Facts
- 1 Canadian Air
Division provides the air power that enables the Royal Canadian Air Force
meet the operational needs of the Canadian Armed Forces at home and abroad
in roles ranging from search and rescue to the defence of North America.
- Encompassing 12
RCAF wings across Canada, 1 Canadian Air Division is organized and
equipped to provide operationally-ready forces for rapid deployment and
employment, while ensuring its wings and units are ready with the right
mix of air power to meet Canada’s aerospace needs.
- The commander of 1 Canadian Air Division
serves as Commander of the Canadian NORAD Region and as the Joint Force
Air Component Commander on behalf of the Canadian Joint Operations
Command. He also serves as commander of the Trenton Search and Rescue
Region, which covers an area or more than 10 million square kilometres:
from the British Columbian border to the west, to Quebec’s eastern border,
and from the U.S. border to the south, to the Arctic.