'He didn't get that job for nothing'

Charles Lewis, National Post
Published: Tuesday, February 09, 2010


The officer who is asked to oversee the complex workings of Canadian Forces Base Trenton, including the main air force arm, 8 Wing, is someone who is expected to have a great career in front of him and is highly trusted by the country's top brass, says one of the country's leading military scholars.

"It is a very important position of command and trust," said Douglas Bland, a professor in the Queen's University School of Policy Studies. "He didn't get that job for nothing."

Prof. Bland, who holds the Chair in Defence Management Studies, would not talk specifically about Colonel Russ Williams, the man charged yesterday in the murder of two women. However, he provided a description of the responsibilities of the commander's job and the kind of person who makes it to that level in the Canadian military.

"The person who is promoted to commander of 8 Wing is normally in line to become a general within a few years," said Prof. Bland.

The scope of the operation at Trenton is considered one of the most demanding in the military. The base itself has nearly 3,000 military personnel and the commander is responsible for running all operations of the base -- from firefighters, to schools and snow clearance. "It's like being mayor of a small town."

But the specific role of commander of 8 Wing is the most critical of those jobs. The 20 CC-130 Hercules and five Airbus CC-150 Polaris transport aircraft cover an enormous range of operations and territory and is the main air transport centre in Canada.

The aircraft are now involved in bringing relief to Haiti, co-ordinating resupply for Canada's mission in Afghanistan and air support for the Vancouver Olympics.

Aircraft and personnel from 8 Wing are often involved with resupplying Canadian Forces Station Alert, the world's northernmost inhabited location. Also, 8 Wing's 424 Squadron is responsible for providing search and rescue coverage to a million square-kilometre area in central Canada.

"He's got the lives of hundreds of people in his hands. If planes crash, people get killed," said Prof. Bland.

clewis@nationalpost.com