Rick Findley
Encyclopedia
Eric A. "Rick" Findley is a retired Lieutenant-General
in the Royal Canadian Air Force
and was the Deputy Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command
(NORAD) from July 2003 through August 2007.
, Ontario
, in 1950.
He entered the Canadian Forces
in 1968 and was trained as a pilot
. He flew with the 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron
, (CFB Edmonton
); No. 444 Squadron RCAF (CFB Lahr
); No. 403 Squadron RCAF (CFB Gagetown
), and commanded the No. 427 Squadron RCAF (CFB Petawawa
). During peacekeeping
operations, he commanded and flew with United Nations
(UN) and Multinational Force and Observer (MFO) aviation units in the Sinai, Central America
, and Haiti
. The logbook
reflects over 4600 flying hours, primarily in helicopter
s. He has commanded at the flight
, squadron
(427 Squadron), and wing
level (7 Wing/CFB Ottawa). He has commanded two Canadian peacekeeping contingents, and served as Chief of Staff for the MFO.
Findley served on several different staffs
. He served as Senior Staff Officer Plans, Doctrine, and Requirements with 10 Tactical Air Group headquarters; Staff Officer in the Directorate of Peacekeeping Operations and National Defence Operations Centre at National Defence Headquarters
; Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff at National Defence Headquarters; Chief of Staff for Personnel, Training, and Reserves (A1) at Air Command Headquarters and 1 Canadian Air Division; Chief of Staff for Operations (A3) at 1 Canadian Air Division
/Canadian NORAD Region; and Director of Combat Operations (NJ3) at NORAD headquarters. Findley finished his military career as Deputy Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command
(NORAD) from July 2003 through August 2007.
in biology
from Carleton University
and has graduated from the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, Toronto
; French Language Training, Montreal
; Royal College of Defence Studies
, London
, and Combined Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell Air Force Base
.
, Meritorious Service Cross
for action taken during the September 11, 2001 attacks
, Special Service Medal
for duty in NATO, Peacekeeping Medals from UN missions in Central America and Haiti, the MFO medal for service in the peacekeeping mission in Egypt/Israel, the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
, and the Canadian Forces Decoration
.
Lieutenant-General (Canada)
In the Canadian Forces, the rank of lieutenant-general is an Army or Air Force rank equal to a vice-admiral of the Navy. A lieutenant-general is a general officer, the equivalent of a Naval flag officer. A lieutenant-general is senior to a major general or rear-admiral, and junior to a general or...
in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
and was the Deputy Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
(NORAD) from July 2003 through August 2007.
Early life and career
Findley was born in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, in 1950.
He entered the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
in 1968 and was trained as a pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
. He flew with the 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron
408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron
408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron is a unit of 1 Canadian Air Division's 1 Wing. It is co-located with 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton....
, (CFB Edmonton
CFB Edmonton
CFB Edmonton is a Canadian Forces base located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is also known as Edmonton Garrison or "Steele Barracks".-History:...
); No. 444 Squadron RCAF (CFB Lahr
CFB Lahr
Black Forest Airport is a privately owned and operated commercial airport located in Lahr, Germany. Formerly known as Canadian Forces Base Lahr, or CFB Lahr, the Canadian Forces Base was operated primarily as an air force base, and later as an army base, during the late 1960s. The military base...
); No. 403 Squadron RCAF (CFB Gagetown
CFB Gagetown
Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, referred to as CFB Gagetown is a large Canadian Forces Base located in southwestern New Brunswick.- Construction of the base :...
), and commanded the No. 427 Squadron RCAF (CFB Petawawa
CFB Petawawa
Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, commonly referred to as CFB Petawawa, or simply "Pet", is a Canadian Forces Base located in Petawawa, Ontario. It is operated as an army base by Canadian Forces Land Force Command.-Base facts:...
). During peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operations, he commanded and flew with United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(UN) and Multinational Force and Observer (MFO) aviation units in the Sinai, Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, and Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. The logbook
Logbook
A logbook was originally a book for recording readings from the chip log, and is used to determine the distance a ship traveled within a certain amount of time...
reflects over 4600 flying hours, primarily in helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s. He has commanded at the flight
Flight (military unit)
A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. It usually comprises three to six aircraft, with their aircrews and ground staff; or, in the case of a non-flying ground flight, no aircraft and a roughly equivalent number of support personnel. In most usages,...
, squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
(427 Squadron), and wing
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
level (7 Wing/CFB Ottawa). He has commanded two Canadian peacekeeping contingents, and served as Chief of Staff for the MFO.
Findley served on several different staffs
General Staff
A military staff, often referred to as General Staff, Army Staff, Navy Staff or Air Staff within the individual services, is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units...
. He served as Senior Staff Officer Plans, Doctrine, and Requirements with 10 Tactical Air Group headquarters; Staff Officer in the Directorate of Peacekeeping Operations and National Defence Operations Centre at National Defence Headquarters
Department of National Defence Headquarters (Canada)
The Major-General George R. Pearkes Building is the principal location of Canada's National Defence Headquarters and is located in Ottawa, Ontario....
; Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff at National Defence Headquarters; Chief of Staff for Personnel, Training, and Reserves (A1) at Air Command Headquarters and 1 Canadian Air Division; Chief of Staff for Operations (A3) at 1 Canadian Air Division
1 Canadian Air Division
1 Canadian Air Division is the operational-level command and control formation of the Royal Canadian Air Force...
/Canadian NORAD Region; and Director of Combat Operations (NJ3) at NORAD headquarters. Findley finished his military career as Deputy Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
(NORAD) from July 2003 through August 2007.
Education
Findley has a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
from Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
and has graduated from the Canadian Forces Command and Staff College, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
; French Language Training, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
; Royal College of Defence Studies
Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and Combined Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
.
Awards and decorations
Findley's awards and decorations include Commander of the Order of Military MeritOrder of Military Merit (Canada)
The Order of Military Merit is a military honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest order administered by the Governor General-in-Council, on behalf of the Queen of Canada...
, Meritorious Service Cross
Meritorious Service Cross
The Meritorious Service Cross is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, one of the two Meritorious Service Decorations gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council...
for action taken during the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, Special Service Medal
Special Service Medal
Special Service Medal refers to a campaign or service medal awarded by several different countries:* Special Service Medal * Special Service Medal * New Zealand Special Service Medal* United Nations Special Service Medal...
for duty in NATO, Peacekeeping Medals from UN missions in Central America and Haiti, the MFO medal for service in the peacekeeping mission in Egypt/Israel, the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
The Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal is a campaign medal created in 1988 to recognize the contributions of all Canadian Peacekeepers towards the ultimate goal of peace, after the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations was awarded that year's Nobel Peace Prize.-History:In 1988, the...
, and the Canadian Forces Decoration
Canadian Forces Decoration
The Canadian Forces Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions. By convention, it is also given to the Governor General of Canada upon his or her appointment as viceroy, which includes the...
.