After more than 33 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, LCol Wayne Watson, CD (bio attached), will retire on 23 January 2017. A Depart with Dignity Ceremony will take place at a future date. Anecdotes or retirement wishes may be sent to LCol John Michaud
LCol Watson immigrated to Canada in 1972 from Ipswich, England and in 1983 he enrolled in the Regular Officer Training Plan and commenced his post-secondary studies at Concordia University in Montreal.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree in 1988, LCol Watson was posted to CFB Cold Lake as the Base Construction Engineering Production Officer and then as the Engineering Officer. After four years in Cold Lake (where he met his wife Connie, a military nurse), he was posted to CFB Halifax as the Stadacona Requirements Officer. In 1994, LCol Watson was posted to 14 Wing Greenwood to setup and develop the first Reserve Airfield Engineering Flight in Lunenburg County, NS, where he served as the Flight Commander and then as the Sqn DCO. During their time in NS, Wayne and Connie had their two sons, Max and Liam.
In 1997, LCol Watson was posted to 1 CAD HQ in Winnipeg where he held positions in A4 Airfield Engineering doctrine, and on promotion to Major, he moved to A4 Airfield Engineering Operations, overseeing the deployment of Airfield Engineers to Kosovo, Aviano and Albania. This was followed by a move to A4 Airfield Engineering Realty Assets, managing the Air Force’s Long Term Capital Plan (Construction). In 2002, he was posted to 8 Wg Trenton as the Wing Construction Engineering Officer.
In Jul 05, LCol Watson was deployed to Afghanistan as the OC Engineer Support Unit and on his return to Canada, was promoted to his current rank and attached posted as the Specialist Support Engineer Advisor to the Strategic Joint Staff in NDHQ during their stand-up phase.
In Jul 06, Lieutenant Colonel Watson returned to 1 CAD HQ as the Director Mission Support Coord, where a great deal of his time was spent developing the Air Force Support Capability.
In Jun 07, LCol Watson was appointed as the 17 Wing Logistics and Engineering Officer which was an exceptional position, but unfortunately he had to leave in Aug 10, when he transferred back to 1 CAD HQ into the A4 Construction Engineering Infrastructure position where he managed the RCAF infrastructure portfolio.
In Jun 14, LCol Watson became the A4 Construction Engineering Director and stayed there until the ADM(IE) Real Property Management Renewal initiative came into full effect in Apr 16, when he transferred with the entire A4 Construction Engineering Infrastructure Section to the new ADM(IE) Det in Winnipeg. There he worked as the Architectural and Engineering Services’ Chief Aerodrome Engineer, integrating the group into ADM(IE) and assisting A4 Construction Engineering with aerodrome engineering issues.
LCol Watson will be retiring on 23 Jan 17, after 33.5 years of service, to take a civilian ENG06 position within the ADM(IE) Det Winnipeg Office where he’ll continue to work alongside A4 Construction Engineering and the RCAF.
Wayne and Connie will be staying in Winnipeg for a few more years (or at least until Liam decides to move out of the house). Max has already left and is currently undergoing Pilot training at 15 Wing Moose Jaw. Connie remains in the CAF working in the 1 CAD HQ Div Surg Office where she’s currently the Aeromedical Evacuation Program Manager.