After more than 35 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, LCol T.J. Gardner, CD, (00189) will retire on 31 May 2025. A DwD reception will be held on June 5th at 1300 at the NCR Officer mess (NCROM) . If attending, please RSVP to Maj A.D. Selley at: alistair.selley@forces.gc.ca. Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to the same person.
LCol Thomas J. Gardner was born in Saint John NB. He joined the RCAF as an Electrical Generating System (EGS) Tech in 1989. After apprenticeship training at CFB Chilliwack, he was posted to CFS Shelburne on the South- eastern shore of Nova Scotia as a power plant operator. Posted to 86 Airfield Support and Utilities at 8 Wing Trenton in 1993, Cpl Gardner returned to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME) to complete his journeyman training. After completing his first six-month tour as a power plant operator at CFS Alert in 1994, Cpl Gardner spent the next 4 years travelling across Canada supporting CAF operations, including the Red River flood in 1997 and the Montreal Ice Storm in 1998. Participating in and finishing third place in the USAF Readiness Challenge competition was a highlight of this posting.
Promoted to MCpl in 1998, he was posted to 8 Air Communication and Control Squadron as the EGS Supervisor, participating in joint exercises and operations across North America, and hurricane relief on Operation Central in Honduras. Promoted to Sgt in 1999 and posted to CFSME (now at CFB Gagetown) as an instructor in the EGS Tech cell, Sgt Gardner taught apprentice and journeyman level courses for the EGS Tech trade and common courses for the other CE trades. After 2 years of instructing, newly promoted WO Gardner was posted to 1 Construction Engineer Unit (CEU), later 1 Engineer Support Unit (ESU) in Moncton, NB as a power generation designer for 3 Specialist Engineer Team.
During his time at 1 CEU/1 ESU, WO Gardner deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina twice for various engineer tasks, including the installation of commercial power for Camp Maple Leaf and the closure of the Canadian Camps, to Moscow for DFAIT work, and to Kabul, Afghanistan to build the Canadian Camps. Promoted to MWO in 2005 and given the coveted Specialist Engineer Team (SET) MWO position, MWO Gardner deployed to Kandahar multiple times with his SET to design and build infrastructure for the Canadian mission and the Afghanistan government.
In 2008, MWO Gardner accepted a commission to the rank of Captain and was posted to 14 Wing Greenwood as the Requirements Officer. During this posting, Captain Gardner managed the Wing Construction Program and was deployed to Kandahar for his last tour to Afghanistan as the Engineer Squadron second in command.
Promoted to Major in 2012, Major Gardner was posted to Ottawa to work as the senior Project Director for RCAF infrastructure, a posting that came with a step learning curve and many new challenges. During this posting, Maj Gardner developed major capital infrastructure projects for the RCAF and worked with ADM IE to shape centralization of the infrastructure portfolio.
In 2014, Maj Gardner was posted to ADM IE as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the newly formed Real Property Operations - North region. This posting would be the prologue to the last chapter of his career, shaping the management of the Northern portfolio and leading to the final posting and promotion for Tom.
After attending the Joint Command Staff Program through the Canadian Forces College, Tom was promoted to his current rank of LCol and appointed at Chief of Staff - Real Property Operations North in 2021. This posting was the highlight of his career and lead to many trips to the far reaches of the Canadian Arctic.
Upon his retirement from the CAF, Tom is taking time off to enjoy time with family and friends and plans to travel.
Tom is married to his wonderful wife, Heather and they raised three strong and independent children Jamie, Aeryn and Josie.
The friendships made and the times had will not be forgotten.