Our People

The men and women of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and their civilian colleagues are the RCAF’s greatest strength, the heart of the institution and the foundation upon which the RCAF’s future is built. They are extraordinary and professional, capable of accomplishing great things, setting standards of quality that are respected around the world. Day after day, night after night they contribute directly and indirectly to the delivery of air and space power for our nation.

Our airmen and airwomen are guided and inspired by the achievements of those who have served in the Air Force throughout its history.

Here are some of their stories.

Present

A man wearing an olive-green flight suit stands in front of an orange propeller aircraft.

Our people: Major Steve Thompson, Air Detachment (North) commander for Operation Laser

Major Steve Thompson says his 12 years of experience working in the north is important in his role as the Air Task Force’s Air Detachment (North) commander for Operation Laser, the Canadian Armed Forces’ response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
May 13, 2020

A smiling woman wearing a disruptive pattern uniform stands in front of a jet fighter.

Our people: Major Jane Yoon, Air Task Force A4 for Operation Laser

Instead of finalizing the logistics of her much-anticipated wedding, Major Jane Yoon answered the call of duty as Air Task Force A4 for Operation Laser, the CAF’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
May 12, 2020

A circular silver metal badge with a globe, a laurel wreath and maple leaf.

New CAF Space Specialist Skill Badge

Canadian Armed Forces personnel who have achieved a combination of formal space qualifications and experience are now eligible to proudly wear the Space Specialist Skill Badge.
May 11, 2020

A smiling man in a olive green flight suit holding a pilot’s helmet stands in front of a grey helicopter.

Our people: Major Matthew Dukowski heads up Air Detachment (Atlantic) for Operation Laser

“When things get bad, people look to us,” says Major Matthew Dukowski, Air Detachment (Atlantic) Commander for Operation Laser, the Canadian Armed Forces’ response to the novel coronavirus global pandemic.
April 23, 2020

A woman wearing a disruptive pattern uniform sits at a desk with a laptop.

Our people: Warrant Officer Tina Koutras

Using knowledge and experience she acquired in her civilian roles as a motivational coach and online entrepreneur, Warrant Officer Tina Koutras is keeping the information flowing at 12 Wing Shearwater, Nova Scotia, during the COVID-19 epidemic.
April 15, 2020

Past

A vintage photo of two men shaking hands, one sitting in the cockpit of an aircraft and the other standing beside it.

The RCAF in the Korean War

From 1950 to 1953, Royal Canadian Air Force personnel served in Canada, the US and Korea in a United Nations-driven effort to rebuff North Korea’s advances into South Korea.
June 25, 2020

A black and white photo of man sitting in the cockpit of First World War fighter biplane.

Billy Bishop, Canada’s first Air Force Victoria Cross winner

On June 2, 1917, Capt William Avery “Billy” Bishop took off from his home base with No. 60 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, near Arras in northern France, on a daring early morning mission that would win him the Victoria Cross.
June 2, 2020

A black-and-white photo of six uniformed women standing in a row with their arms around each other’s waists, looking up.

We have come a long way

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the great accomplishments of women today, but also those of women who paved the way for the generations that followed them.
March 6, 2020

A vintage black and white photo of a woman in operational flying dress speaking into a microphone held by a man wearing a sports jacket.

Grace MacEachern, para-belle: An RCAF pioneer

Pilot Officer Grace MacEachern was a pioneer for women in a revolutionary time for women's roles and rights. As a para-belle in the Canadian Armed Forces in the 1950s, she blazed a trail both for women and for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
March 5, 2020

In a black-and-white photograph, two young men in uniform sit on the leading edge of the wing of a vintage propeller aircraft, and two more stand in front of the wing.

Junius Lyman Edward Hokan: An extraordinary RCAF officer

Pilot Officer Junius Hokan was 20 when he died, but during his service he broke the race barrier barring Black-Canadians from serving in the RCAF, was an accomplished fighter pilot, and invented a navigation device that drew the attention of Great Britain’s air ministry.
February 26, 2020

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