After more than 34 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineers, MWO Robert (Bob) Gray, CD, will retire on 24 June 2021. There may be small DWD ceremony in late June, if COVID-19 restrictions allow. Anecdotes, congratulatory messages, and pictures can be sent to Maj C.L. Larouche at Christophe.Larouche@forces.gc.ca.

MWO Bob Gray began his military career while still in high school, enrolling in the Primary Reserves, the 49th Sault Ste. Marie Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery in Dec of 1986. Bob would spend the next nine years with the 49th, holding positions from Gun Detachment member, Artillery Technician, Detachment Commander and finally Recce Sgt. Bob spent much of this time on Class B as a training co-ordinator/ instructor during the winter months (as well as parading with the 49th) and instructing Artillery or CLC/ PLQ courses in the summer. The highlight of Bob’s time with the Primary Reserves was his tasking as an augmentee with 4 Svc Bn during Fall EX 89 in West Germany.

Looking for a new challenge and to have weekends off for a change, Bob Component Transferred to the Regular Force in 1996 as an EGS tech and after his QL-3 in Chilliwack was posted to 86 Airfield Systems and Utilities in Trenton. Here installed generators in several locations across Canada, worked on the Mobile Arresting Gear on a few airshows and completed two 6 month Alert tours as a Power Plant Operator.

In 2002, Bob was posted to CFSME in Gagetown as an instructor in the EGS cell, where he was course NCO for the first 16 load QL-3 EGS course.

In 2006, Bob was posted back to 86 ASU in Trenton, as a Crew Chief and later EGS Supervisor. He completed two tours with OP Athena (with service mostly in Camp Nathan Smith with some in Mirage and some in KAF), deployed to Haiti as part of OP Hestia, completed numerous TD trips installing generators across Canada and several trips back to CFS Alert for various EGS projects.

In 2011, Bob was posted to North Bay, Area Support Unit Northern Ontario as the Construction Engineering Officer, where he managed the Facilities Maintenance contract and construction program for armouries in North Bay, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Rouyn-Noranda and the Burwash Training Area.

After only two years, ASU Northern Ontario was dissolved, so Bob was posted to RP Ops Kingston, as the SSM and Works Superintendent.

In 2016 Bob was posted to CFJOSG HQ, also in Kingston, serving in the J-5 and J-7 sections and helping to form the new J Engr section.

Bob’s final year was spent in Ottawa on IR at CJOC J Engr in the SM and Infra 3 position.

Bob and his wife Rachel, son Eric, daughter Maddie and their Lab Rocky have decided to call Kingston home. He will continue to work in the civilian sector and enjoy curling, golf and squash.

Bob would like to thank all of the great people he has had the privilege of working with over the years, those that have mentored him throughout his career and finally his ever understanding family who stood by him through all the postings, absences and tours.