4 Wing Cold Lake Construction Engineers are proud to announce the retirement of Chief Warrant Officer Bill McInnis. The branch will be losing a tremendous individual when Bill retires but we have it on good authority that Bill may return to the organization in a civilian capacity at some point in the near future. CWO McInnis was born in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia and joined the Canadian Forces in 1976. Upon completion of recruit training in Cornwallis, N.S. he received trades training at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack, B.C. and was posted to 1CEU Winnipeg in September 1977. In May of 1979, he deployed to CFS Alert employed as a Structures Technician. He was posted to CFB Portage La Prairie in September 1979 and promoted to Corporal in October 1980 while Portage. During January of 1981, he deployed to Damascus, Syria followed by a posting to CFB Ottawa shortly after his tour. In July 1983, he deployed to Alert for a second time on a six month tour followed by a posting to CFB Gagetown and was promoted to Master Corporal in June 1985. A posting to 4ESR occurred in June 1988 while he was posted in Gagetown. Promoted to Sergeant in July of 1989 and posted to sunny CFB Chilliwack. In July 1992, he was once again posted to CFB Ottawa and deployed to Banya Luka, Bosnia in November 1992. In March 1995, he deployed to Port Au Prince, Haiti as a Structures Technician Supervisor. He was posted to CFB Edmonton in July 1996 and promoted to Warrant Officer July 1997. In August that year, he was posted to CFB Borden followed by a posting to CFB Winnipeg’s Dundurn Detachment where he was employed as the Construction Section Commander. He was promoted to Master Warrant Officer in March of 2001 and posted to 4 Wing Cold Lake. He was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer in September 2007 and assumed the responsibilities of the Unit Chief Warrant Officer of the 4 Wing CE Squadron. Chief Warrant Officer McInnis is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys sports, golfing, camping, fishing and hunting. The decision to retire comes at a good time for Bill and his family, his wife Desiree and son Kyle have chosen to retire in Cold Lake. Bill plans on completing many home improvement projects while making more time for golfing and fishing. Bill’s last day in uniform will be 31 March, followed by a large amount of retirement leave. His official retirement date is actually 25 October 09. A retirement function will be held in Cold Lake at a date to be determined. Please send all congratulatory messages, anecdotes and emails to MWO R. Lamothe Lamothe.RD2@forces.gc.ca prior to 15 March 2009.