Charles Bouchard

J.J.C. Bouchard[1]

Lt. Gen Charles Bouchard addresses Canadian military and WWII veterans during a Battle of Britain commemoration.
Born Chicoutimi, Québec, Canada
Allegiance  Canada
Service/branch  Royal Canadian Air Force
Years of service 1974–present
Rank Lieutenant General
Unit 427 Squadron
403 Squadron
444 Squadron
Commands held 444 Squadron
1 Wing Kingston
1 Canadian Air Division
Battles/wars Operation Unified Protector
Awards Officer of the Order of Canada
Commander of the Order of Military Merit
Meritorious Service Cross
Special Service Medal
QEII Golden Jubilee Medal
Canadian Forces Decoration
Officer of the Legion of Merit (US)

Lieutenant General Joseph Jacques Charles "Charlie" Bouchard OC CMM MSC CD is a Royal Canadian Air Force general. He has served as Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division / Canadian NORAD Region, the Deputy Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and Deputy Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples. On 25 March 2011, Bouchard was named Commander of the NATO military mission in Libya.[2]

Contents

Biography

Joseph Jacques Charles Bouchard was born in Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada. He enrolled with the Canadian Forces in 1974 under the Officer Candidate Training Plan. After helicopter training, Bouchard qualified in 1976 as a helicopter pilot.[3]

Bouchard has had a long career in Tactical Aviation within Canadian Forces Air Command, which included flying positions in several squadrons, command of 444 Tactical Helicopter Squadron at Lahr in Germany, and command of 1 Wing Kingston. Bouchard has served in the United States as Deputy Commander for Continental NORAD Region and was standing duty at Tyndall Air Force Base conducting Air Operation on September 11, 2001.[4] Bouchard would later become Deputy Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, and from August 2007 to June 2009, Deputy Commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command, receiving promotion to Lieutenant-General on taking up the appointment. In 2009, he assumed the position of Deputy Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples.[3] While continuing to serve at Naples, on 25 March 2011, Bouchard was named Commander of Operation Unified Protector, NATO's military intervention in Libya.[2]

Bouchard is a graduate of Canadian Forces Staff School; Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College; Canadian Forces Command and Staff College; the National Strategic Studies Course; the Combined Forces Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell Air Force Base; the Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors Course at the NATO Defense College; and the Senior Executives National and International Security Program at Harvard University. Bouchard also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Manitoba.[3]

Medals

Bouchard's medal ribbons are arranged as shown:[5]

Officer of the Order of Canada
Commander Order of Military Merit
Meritorious Service Cross
Special Service Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
Canadian Forces Decoration
Legion of Merit (US)

References

  1. ^ "J.J.C. (Charlie) Bouchard, CMM, CD, CANADIAN FORCES". North American Aerospace Defence Command Biography. North American Aerospace Defence Command. August 2007. http://www.norad.mil/leaders/bouchard_english_bio.pdf. Retrieved 29 March 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "NATO's Libya mission to be led by Canadian". CBCNews. CBC. 25 March 2011. http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/03/25/libya-nato-mission.html. Retrieved 25 March 2011. 
  3. ^ a b c "Senior Officer Biography". National Defence and the Canadian Forces. 24 April 2007. http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dsa-dns/sa-ns/ab/sobv-vbos-eng.asp?SectChoice=1&mAction=View&mBiographyID=33. Retrieved 25 March 2011. 
  4. ^ Sgt. 1st Class Gail Braymen (2 August 2007). "New NORAD deputy commander takes office". NORAD News. North American Aerospace Defense Command. http://www.norad.mil/News/2007/080207.html. Retrieved 25 March 2011. 
  5. ^ Photograph of Charles Bouchard JFC Naples

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
M. J. Dumais
Commander of the 1 Canadian Air Division / Canadian NORAD Region
3 August 2004 - 17 July 2007
Succeeded by
Marcel Duval
Preceded by
Rick Findley
Deputy Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command
2 August 2007 - June 2009
Succeeded by
Marcel Duval
Preceded by
P T C Pearson
Deputy Commander of the Allied Joint Force Command Naples
3 October 2009 - present
Incumbent