Maj N.H. "Neil" Anderson, CD will retire on 10 Mar 2017 after serving 29 plus years of loyal and dedicated service to the CAF and the CME Branch (see bio attached). Maj Anderson has accepted the position of Community Emergency Management Coordinator and Deputy Airport Manager (aka: Deputy Fire Chief) in Stratford ON. A DWD luncheon will take place on 10 Mar 2017 at the Juno Beach Mess in CFB Borden. Messages, anecdotes, or photos can be sent to Capt Brotherton at 705-424-1200x5317.
Major Neil Anderson was born in Exeter, Ontario; he initially joined the military in 1987 as a Reserve Radio/Teletype Operator with 763 Comm Sqn, Ottawa, while still in High School. In June 1989 he joined the Regular Force as a Military Fire Fighter and graduated from Cornwallis, September 1989. His first posting, after completion of his basic trades training at the Canadian Forces Fire Academy, in July 1990, was CFB Uplands Fire Department, in Ottawa. His subsequent posting to 8 Wing Trenton, in 1995, saw him married with his wife Caren, deployed to Macedonia on OP Guarantor, competed in the Readiness Challenge Civil Engineering competition at Tyndall AFB, completed a year-long French course, and promoted to MCpl.
The new millennium brought about a posting to the Frigate HMCS Ville de Québec, in Halifax NS. This posting included multiple sailings with HMCS Iroquois and HMCS Charlottetown. He was accelerated to Sgt in June 2001 and in August 2003 Major Anderson was posted to Shearwater Fire Department as Platoon Chief. In December of that same year he received his commission to Lieutenant under the Commissioning from the Ranks Program and was posted to Gagetown, NB. Upon completion of the Common Army Phase and Phase III/IV Construction Engineering Officer training in July 2005, Maj Anderson was posted to Comox, BC as Fire Chief and in December of 2006 was promoted to Captain.
In 2008 Major Anderson was posted to the Canadian Forces Fire Academy as Chief Instructor. In July 2010 he was promoted to the rank of Major and was posted to the CF Fire Marshal’s office in the position of Operations and Policy, which also presented him secondary opportunities as Royal Canadian Navy Fire Marshal and Real Property Ops Group Fire Marshal. During this posting, Major Anderson completed his Bachelor of Applied Business: Emergency Services Program.
In July 2014 Major Anderson returned to Borden as the Commandant of the Canadian Forces Fire and CBRN Academy.
Major Anderson is married to his wife, Caren. The two had previously met as a member of the same squad and platoon in Cornwallis; she is also a former serving member of the Communication Research trade.
Major Anderson enjoys fishing and camping and is an avid Toronto Maple Leafs fan.