CWO Garray Cotton, CD

CWO Garray Cotton, CD, will retire from the Canadian Armed Forces on 15 May 2015 after 31 plus years of service to the CF and the CME Branch (see bio attached). A Depart with Dignity ceremony will be held on 01 May 15 in Montreal. Congratulatory messages, anecdotes, and farewell wishes can be forwarded to Capt Simon Caron <SIMON.CARON2@forces.gc.ca> or to Julie Brisebois Julie.Brisebois@forces.gc.ca by email before 24 April 2015.

Adjuc Garray Cotton, CD, prendra sa retraite des Forces armées canadiennes le 15 mai 2015 après plus de 31 années de service pour les FAC et la Branche du GMC (voir bio ci-jointe) Une cérémonie de départ dans la dignité aura lieu le 1er mai 2015 à Montréal. Veuillez transmettre vos messages de félicitations, vos souhaits ou vos anecdotes au Capt Simon Caron SIMON.CARON2@forces.gc.ca et à Mme Julie Brisebois Julie.Brisebois@forces.gc.ca par courriel avant le 24 avril 2015.

Chief Warrant Officer Cotton will retire on 15 May 2015, after 31 plus years of service. CWO Garray Cotton enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1984. The early years entailed a six year stint as an Artilleryman; with postings to 3 RCHA, CFB Shilo and later with le 5ième Regiment d’artillerie légère du Canada (5 RALC), BFC Valcartier. While serving with 5 RALC he participated in Ex Rendez-Vous in Wainwright Alta, Ex Brave Lion in Norway, and a six month tour to Cyprus in 87/88.

In 1990, Cpl Cotton completed an occupational transfer to the Construction Engineering Branch as a Construction Technician. His initial postings were to BFC Valcartier, with Base Construction Engineer section and later 5 Fd Amb.

Posted to 1 CEU Moncton, NB in 1994, he served as a Construction Tech on numerous projects; CFB Trenton Refuelling Tender Garage, CFS Eureka accommodations, CFS Alert upgrade project, CFS Masset Warren Truss repairs, CFB Gagetown ammo storage facility, Bosnia TAV in 1996 which was followed by a 7 month tour in 1997 as part of the Works & Design horizontal and vertical construction inspection team.

In July 1999, MCpl Cotton was posted to CFB Greenwood as the 141 CEF Construction Section IC, during this posting he managed domestic Construction Section projects, Air Nation Guard exchange recce, and a 6 month UN tour to the Golan Heights. Promoted to Sergeant, he was then posted to 1 ESU, Moncton NB in 2001.

During this posting, Sgt Cotton attended Community College Civil Technologist year-long course and was later employed within 1 ESU’s Drafting & Survey cell. Promoted to WO in 2003 he completed 3 TAV’s to Afghanistan between 2004 and 2006.

Promoted to MWO in 2007, he was employed as the Unit Force Protection, completing the Force Protection Officer and Advanced Force Protection courses at CFB Borden and Humphreys Engineer Center with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers in Alexandria, Virginia, respectfully. He later assumed the 1 SET SM responsibilities followed by a 3 month TAV in Jamaica as part of Exercise Tropical Hammer.

He was posted to ASU Chilliwack in 2008. During this time he served as the Engineer Services Officer for Mainland BC and was seconded to Joint Task Force Games, Vancouver 2010 Olympics, as a security infrastructure Project Manager for the CF, RCMP, and OGD’s.

CWO Cotton was promoted to his current rank and posted to Director Personnel Generating Requirements (DPGR), Ottawa, in 2010 as the senior SME for the Construction Engineering occupations MESIP review. In 2012, CWO was posted to his current position as Sergeant Major, Engr Svcs, 2 Canadian Division Support Group.

CWO Cotton will retire in the Maritimes, enjoying fishing trout, eating many lobsters and tasting fine wines.