After more than 36 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, LCol Allan Taylor, CD, will retire on 02 April 2024. A DwD function for LCol Taylor will be held on 01 February 2024 at 13:30 hrs at the Officers’ Mess at 8 Wing/CFB Trenton, ON.  If you wish to attend in person or if you wish to send anecdotes to be read during the ceremony, please contact Maj S. Emond at Sara.Emond@forces.gc.ca.

CHIMO!

Following a rewarding career of more than 36 years as a member of the Canadian Military Engineers (CME), LCol Allan Taylor will retire from the CAF on 02 April 2024.

Originally from Lincoln, NB, LCol Taylor joined the CAF as a Direct Entry Officer in 1987, after graduating from the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Following military engineering (MILE) phase training at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME) on CFB Chilliwack, his first posting was across the country to 5Wing / CFB Goose Bay. Subsequent postings included 19 Wing / CFB Comox; 1 Canadian Division Headquarters (HQ) and 1 Wing HQ on CFB Kingston; 22 Wing / CFB North Bay; CFSME on CFB Gagetown; Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency (AFCESA) in
Tyndall, Florida; 14 Wing / CFB Greenwood; Canadian Forces Real Property Operations Group in Ottawa; Base Technical Services Officer at CFB Borden, HQ Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFCBS), the Netherlands; and finally, the Royal Canadian Air Force Aerospace Warfare Centre HQ on 8 Wing / CFB Trenton.

An early change of distinctive environmental uniform (DEU) from Land to Air focused LCol Taylor’s career on the construction engineering side of the CME and led to many satisfying opportunities with the Royal Canadian Air Force. LCol Taylor is proud to have commanded troops and managed civilian employees at every rank and fully recognizes the hard work and skill of all those individuals who made their units successful.

Three international deployments (Haiti 1995, Uganda 1996, Afghanistan 2007/08) and three domestic deployments (Winnipeg floods 1997, Montréal ice storm 1998, Ottawa Y2K 1999/2000) provided more memories and friendships. However, the highlights of LCol Taylor’s career include his exchange with the United States Air Force Civil Engineers in Florida and his posting to HQ JFCBS in the Netherlands - even though COVID proved to be a significant challenge to their European travel plans.

LCol Taylor’s children, Joshua and Ariel, have grown up to be strong, independent adults despite moving every three or four years during their childhood. Through it all, Susan has been by his side keeping their home together, except during renovations. Following one more renovation, which is currently underway, they will settle into retirement in Kingston, Ontario, to enjoy whatever comes next - as long as it includes playing squash