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Here, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff (far right), is escorted with LGen Michael Hood (middle centre) and LGen Yvan Blondin (middle left) into the ceremony at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Ken Pole Photo
New hands are at the controls of the Royal Canadian Air Force today after a change-of-command ceremony on July 9 at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa. LGen Mike Hood, an air combat systems officer, succeeded veteran CF-188 Hornet pilot LGen Yvan Blondin, who had been commander since September 2012.
The ceremony took place just a couple of hundred metres from a runway used by the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during the Second World War. Even as Hood, Blondin and Gen Tom Lawson, the chief of the defence staff, spoke, they were periodically drowned out by an array of vintage and modern private aircraft that were taking off and landing at the Rockcliffe Flying Club. Lawson laughed, saying that the noise was “appropriate,” given the runway’s history. A few minutes earlier, a pair of CF-188 Hornets from 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron at Bagotville, Que., had completed a low-altitude flypast.
The proceedings included a CF-188 flypast from Bagotville. Ken Pole Photo
Hood, a Montreal native, actually began his military career as an infantry reservist with his hometown’s Grenadier Guards, before transferring to the Regular Force. He received his wings in 1988, subsequently commanding 429 and 436 transport squadrons, logging most of his 2,000 hours on Lockheed Martin CC-130 Hercules tactical airlifters, and was commander of 8 Wing at Trenton, Ont., from 2007 to 2009.
He came to his newest post from an assignment as director of the strategic joint staff at National Defence Headquarters, where he determined overall Canadian Armed Forces training requirements and priorities. His career path to that point had included a stint as deputy commander of the RCAF and, in 2012, he was the first Canadian to head up the multi-national aviation element of the massive Rim of the Pacific Exercise held every two years in and around Hawaii.
While Blondin gave a free-wheeling but thoughtful and often funny farewell speech, lauding his personnel and reminiscing about his 35-year career, Hood opted for a graver tone, befitting his new responsibilities at a time of tremendous challenge for the RCAF.
Lieutenant-General Hood began his military career as an army reservist with Montreal’s Canadian Grenadier Guards before transferring to the Regular Force and receiving his Air Combat Systems Officer wings in 1988. He commanded both 429 and 436 Transport Squadrons and subsequently served as the Commander of 8 Wing Trenton from 2007 to 2009. He leaves his post as Director of the Strategic Joint Staff to take command of the RCAF. Ken Pole Photo
Acknowledging the crews possibly flying combat missions over Iraq and Syria as he spoke—as well as sundry missions at home—he highlighted their families’ support, calling them “crucial members of our RCAF team” who could count on his support in return.
Then, addressing a loaded issue facing the military in general after a flurry of accusations by personnel about sexual harassment, Hood said he “will be sending a very clear message to my subordinate commanders that harassment of any sort . . . has no place in the RCAF or, for that matter, throughout the entire Canadian Armed Forces.”
That said, Hood professed “great faith” in his community and promised he would “continue to invest in our airmen and airwomen . . . as we think beyond the cockpit, the flight line, and the maintenance hangar to ensure that we remain prepared to confront future challenges.”
Hood, at right, expressed during his speech he would “continue to invest in our airmen and airwomen.” Ken Pole Photo
While he conceded that “my crystal ball doesn’t work any better than yours,” Hood—who has a Master’s Degree in international relations from Auburn University in Alabama—said RCAF airpower is a “key instrument” in achieving the government’s objectives. “We must be ready to answer the call . . . and to achieve airpower mastery in today’s interconnected and interlinked world, all members of the RCAF must also fly in formation together—regardless of their job, their aircraft, or their mission.” That included close cooperation with the Army and Navy as well as National Defence Headquarters, other federal departments, and Canada’s allies.
“Remember the RCAF’s motto, sic itur ad astra (such is the pathway to the stars),” he concluded. “You have my pledge that I will continue to build that pathway . . . with all of my energy.”
