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New Commander for 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region

  • Published
  • By Lt Steve Neta
  • 1 Canadian Air Division
On Tuesday, July 17, Winnipeg's highest-ranking military officer changed and Major-General. J. M. (Marcel) Duval became the new Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region (CANR). A military parade marked the change of command. 

The ceremony included two fly overs past the parade square to commemorate the change of command. The first consisted of two low flying CF-18 Hornet Fighter Jets. The second fly over was four Griffon Helicopters in formation. 

Maj.-Gen. Duval replaced Lt.-Gen. Charlie Bouchard who will assume the duties of Deputy Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

"I am very pleased to call Winnipeg home for the next few years," said Maj.-Gen. Duval. "I have large shoes to fill and look forward to working with the men and women of the Air Force to continue our mission of serving and protecting Canadians at home and those who are deployed." Maj.-Gen. Duval most recently worked as Deputy Commander CONR Continental U.S. NORAD Region at Tyndall AFB, Florida. 

A number of high-ranking Canadian and American military leaders attended the change of command. Chief of the Air Staff Lt.-Gen. Steve Lucas officiated the ceremony. Incoming Chief of the Air Staff Lt.-Gen. Angus Watt and Lt.-Gen. Marc Dumais, Commander, Canada Command, were also present. 

General Victor "Gene" Renuart, Commander, NORAD and United States Northern Command from Colorado Springs, Colorado presided over the Canadian NORAD Region change of command. 

1 Cdn Air Div/CANR HQ was created in 1997 as part of a major re-organization of Air Command. Operational level activities are consolidated into 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) Headquarters. CANR provides aerospace surveillance, identification, control and warning for the defense of Canada and North America. 

CANR executes a variety of tasks to defend Canadian airspace, including identifying and tracking all aircraft entering Canadian airspace, exercising operational command and control of all air defense forces in CANR and operations in support of other government departments and agencies. 

1 Canadian Air Division is responsible for providing CANR with combat-ready air forces to meet Canada's commitment to the defense of North America and maintain the sovereignty of North American airspace. 

NORAD assets are positioned strategically throughout Canada and the U.S. and can respond to any air sovereignty threat in a matter of minutes. CANR CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft are on continuous alert to respond to any potential aerial threat to the safety of Canada and Canadians.