National Executive Council (NEC Directors and Officers)

chester-21Terry Chester, CD, National President. Terry Chester joined the RCAF in Sept 1964 under the ROTP program and received a BA from the U of Sask in 1967. He was award Navigator Wings in 1968 and flew for 3,000 hrs on the Argus Maritime patrol aircraft. Accepted for pilot training in 1971, Terry was the honour student of Course 7102 as he received his pilot’s wings. He spent the next 8 years flying and instructing on the CP 107 Argus in Summerside, PEI and the O.T.U. in Greenwood, NS. As part of the CP 140 Aurora Team from ’79-81, he was instrumental in the introduction the CP 140 to the CF as the Senior Flight Deck Instructor. (Read more here…)

darling Brian W. Darling, CD, Immediate Past National President. Mr. Darling has been a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association (RCAFA) and the Air Force Association of Canada (AFAC) since 1976. In March 1993, he was appointed Honourary Québec Group President RCAFA, for a two-year term. He is the founding President of 394 (West Island) Wing AFAC. In May 1995 he was elected Vice-President of Québec Group, and from May 1997 to April 2005 was Québec Group President and a member of the National Executive Council of the Association. He was elected National 2nd Vice President of the Association in October 2005 for a two-year term. On 1 January 2006 he was appointed as a trustee for the Royal Canadian Air Force Association Trust which, inter alia, provides Pilot Training Achievement Awards to graduated air cadet pilots across Canada. Mr. Darling serves on several AFAC National Committees as well as being the AFAC representative on the Veterans’ Affairs Canada Veterans’ Week Working Group. Bio (Microsoft Word) – Brian Darling Nov 09 Bio (Adobe Acrobat V5.0+) – Brian Darling Nov 09

Lieutenant-General (Retired) Lloyd Campbell concluded a distinguished 37-year military career in 2003 as Commander of the Canadian Air Force. A former fighter pilot, he had previously commanded 1 Canadian Air Division and the Canadian NORAD Region (part of the bi-national North American Aerospace Defense Command); Canadian Forces Base Baden-Söellingen and 4 (Fighter) Wing in Germany; and 419 Tactical Fighter (Training) Squadron in Cold Lake, Alberta. In addition to command appointments, General Campbell held numerous key staff positions in Canada and abroad. Within National Defence Headquarters, he served successively as J3 Operations; Director General Force Development; Director General Strategic Planning; and, for an interim period, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. He also spent three years in NATO, serving as Assistant Chief of Staff (Plans and Policy) at Headquarters Allied Air Forces Central Europe. General Campbell is a graduate of the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College as well as the National Defence College. He holds the degree of Commander in both the Canadian Order of Military Merit as well as the United States Legion of Merit. General Campbell and his wife Sharron are both avid golfers and alpine skiers and, of late, very doting grandparents.

Greg-Spradbrow Greg Spradbrow, CD – 1st Vice-President. Greg Spradbrow was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario on 06 July 1958. In 1971 he joined 44 Sqn RC(Air)C Sqn spending six rewarding years and earning his glider pilots wings. He enrolled into the Canadian Forces in 1977 as an Airframe Tech, he also joined 403 Wing RCAFA in 1978. After training Pte Spradbrow was posted to CFB Greenwood employed repairing Argus then Aurora aircraft, he transferred his Wing Membership to 107 Wing in 1981. Cpl Spradbrow was posted to CFB Trenton in 1984 where he worked in the AMSE shop. On promotion to MCpl in 1987 he was employed on Buffalo and Labrador aircraft with 424 Sqn. With this posting, Greg transferred his Wing membership to 413 Wing. On promotion to MCpl in 1987 he was employed on Buffalo and Labrador aircraft with 424 Sqn. No longer content to sit on the sidelines he served as Wing Secretary for 4 years, worked as volunteer bar tender and Colour Party member. During his time in Trenton, Greg also had the honour of serving on the Task Force to Restructure the RCAFA. In 1991 he was posted to 12 Wing Shearwater working on Sea King helicopters. While serving on HMCS Iroquois he participated in Operation Sharp Guard receiving the NATO Medal (Former Yugoslavia) and the CPSM. He also served on HMCS Halifax for two NATO deployments. During the second NATO his ship was redirected to the Persian Gulf for Operation Apollo (Afghanistan). He was awarded the SSM and SWASM. (Read more here…)

Guy Vallieres - President Quebec GroupGuy Vallieres, President Quebec Group. Born in Magog, Quebec,  Guy  pursued his education both in Magog and Sherbrooke. He served with the Sherbrooke Fusiliers (Army Reserve), from 1954 to 1957. In 1957, he enlisted in the RCAF and was sent to RCAF Station St-Jean for basic training and upon completion  was sent to RCAF Stn Aylmer, Ontario where he was trained as a Medical  Assistant. Following training at RCAF Stn  Rockliffe, he was transferred to  Centralia where he spent the next 4 ½ years. Further transfers brought  him to North Bay Ontario, Holberg B.C. and back to St-Jean, Quebec. Guy  remained in the service until 1967 when he opted for civilian life. He then worked  in sales & marketing of accounting systems and office computers. He retired as Director  of  admissions of a private college (electronics) in 1996. He joined the Royal Canadian Legion in 1987 and is a Past-President of RCL Branch 234. He is currently serving as Chairman of Pointe-Claire Branch 57 of the RCL.  He has also served 5 consecutive years as President of 394 (West Island) Wing of the Air Force Association of Canada  and  is currently serving as Quebec Group President, having been re-elected for a second term April 30th, 2011.  He is an elected  Director of the Lakeshore Legion Housing Association (LLHA). Married to Solange, they are proud parents of two daughters and grand-parents of four.

donovan002Dave Donovan, President Ontario Group. David E C Donovan was born in Brockville Ontario  December 21, 1944. At the age of 16, he attempted to follow in his uncle’s footsteps and join the Canadian Army, by way of the “Boy Soldier Program”. Although he attained high marks, he was not offered the trade he preferred. He then turned his attention to the Royal Canadian Navy, where he completed the basic tests but because of having contracted pneumonia was asked to return after this problem was cleared up. However, fate had other ideas for him and he did not return to take up the Royal Canadian Navy’s kind offer. Life was launched in a different direction and, over the years he has held many positions in various organizations. He was a member of the Kinsmen Club of Brockville where he chaired their sports award dinner and golf tournament that saw many stars of the NHL, CFL and local celebrities attend. After transferring to Kingston in 1973, he served as Vice-President of the Kingston Kinsmen Club and also as the producer of the Kinsmen Broadway musical “Fiddler on the Roof” which played at the Grand Theatre to sold out audiences. He has also served as President of the Cataraqui Soccer Club, Director of the Austrian International Club and  Vice-President of the “Shutzenverian” (Shooting Club).   Dave joined 416 Wing in 1985 but, because of executive duties with the Austrian International Club he dropped out until 1989 when he rejoined 416 Wing as an associate member. He served on the wing executive as a Director from 1995 to 2000 and was elevated to Regular member status in 1997. He was 416 Wing President for four years from 2001 to 2004. Dave was then elected Regional Vice president for Quinte Region in 2005, 2nd Vice President in 2007 and was elected Ontario Group President in 2009. Dave owned and operated “Limestone Painting and Decorating for twenty years, retiring at the end of December 2009. He has one son, Petty Officer Second Class Sean Donovan, who with his wife Trudy and three children Courtney, Megan and Nicholas live in Russell Ontario. Dave and his wife Carole reside in Kingston Ontario.

Ceremonial Advisor – C.L. “Tommy” Thomas, CD. C.L. (Tommy) Thomas Born in London England in 1935, and after formal education, was called up into the Royal Air Force for National Service duty in 1953 until 1955 as an Airframe Mechanic. After release from the RAF went to work as an Airframe mechanic in the civilian Aircraft industry at 8 MU Little Rissington Glos, England. In 1956 enrolled in the RCAF in London Eng, as an Airframe Tech and was posted to 406 Sqn Saskatoon Sask, working on B 25 Mitchell’s. In 1958 was posted to RCAF Stn Greenwood, where he worked on the CP 107 Argus until 1966. At this time he Was posted to 129 Test & Ferry Flight, at 6RD Trenton where he crewed on various aircraft for the next few years. In 1973 he was posted to 4 Wing, Baden Sollingen West Germany, where he served until 1978 working on the CF 104 Starfighter. After a tour in Baden he returned to Canada and was posted to CFB Trenton where he worked on the CC130 and the Boeing 707 aircraft. In 1984, he was promoted to WO and assumed the position of the Boeing maintenance Crew Chief. After three years he was again promoted, this time to Master Warrant Officer and assumed the position of Deputy Repair Officer in charge of maintenance on both CC130’s & the Boeing 707, as well as being the Snr trade advisor for the Aviation Tech’s trades. Upon retirement in 1991 after 38 yrs in the Regular Force, he was commissioned in the Reserve as a Captain in the CIL now the CIC, and became the training officer with 704 Sqn RC (Air) CS Trenton. After three years he took over as the Commanding Officer and was promoted to Major, a position he held until 1997, at which time he became the Eastern regional Detachment Movements Officer. During this time, he also worked as the Ramp Manager for Skycraft Air Transport Inc, at the Oshawa airport, until their demise in 1993. After this he worked as the Ramp supervisor for Zenon Airport Environmental at 8 Wing Trenton in charge of Glycol recovery on the Ramp. In 2000 he finally retired after 47 yrs in the military, and assumed a position in the Ontario Provincial Committee of the Air Cadet League, as the Director of 85 Sqn Picton, 608 Sqn Belleville, and also 534 Sqn Peterborough. After five years he became Area Vice chair EOA (W) again, and still, over seeing Eight Cadet Sqn ’s from Belleville to Bomanville. Back in 1989 while still in the Air Force, I was honoured to be selected as Airman of the Year by 413 Wing of the then RCAFA now AFAC. He has continued his membership ever since and was honoured again in 1996 as ”Member of the Year” for Ontario Group. He served as President of 413 Wing for two years, from 2001-2003, and has been Sgt at Arms continually for the past 8 years, since 1991. In 1994 at the AGM in Windsor he was asked to be the Ceremonial Advisor’s (Ed Walker) Assistant, A position he held until Mr. Walker’s untimely passing, at which time he was asked to fill both his Ontario Ceremonial, & National Ceremonial Advisor positions. He is also the Parade Marshall for Br # 110 RCL Trenton, as well as the Parade Commander for the Ad Astra Stones Dedication Ceremony, held each year in September at the National Air Force Museum at Trenton. In 2008 at the ONT Group Convention at KIW, he was awarded the “ED Walker” Memorial Ont Group “Member of the Year”, and this was followed in Oct at the National Convention with the 2008 “Len Baldock Memorial Award”. These are two Awards that he has accepted with great honour. He is married to Jean (Smith), of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire England, and resides in Trenton. Together they have two married Sons who both attended University, Stephen at Waterloo, and David at Wilfred Laurier, one living in Trenton, and the other now in Newmarket Ont, and are proud grand parents of six grand children.