R 141311Z MAY 09
FM NDHQ ADM MAT OTTAWA
TO AIG 1704
AIG 1705
BT
UNCLAS ADM MAT 001/09

SUBJ: RETIREMENT MSG, COL DRUMMOND, DGMPD PMO MHLH
RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT - COL R.F. DRUMMOND, CD, AERE OFFICER, DGMPD
PMO MHLH, PROJECT MANAGER

1.  COL DRUMMOND IS RETIRING FROM THE CANADIAN FORCES ON 24 AUGUST 2009,
WITH 37 YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CF AND AERE
BRANCH.  

2.  COL DRUMMOND ENTERED ROYAL ROADS MILITARY COLLEGE, VICTORIA
BRITISH COLUMBIA, IN AUGUST 1972 AND GRADUATED IN 1976 FROM THE ROYAL
MILITARY COLLEGE, KINGSTON, WITH A BACHELOR DEGREE IN ENGINEERING AND
MANAGEMENT.  UPON COMPLETION OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING OCCUPATION
TRAINING, HE WAS POSTED TO 409 (AW) F SQUADRON AT CFB COMOX WHERE HE
SERVED AS A SQUADRON MAINTENANCE OFFICER UNTIL 1979 WHEN HE RETURNED
TO RMC TO OBTAIN A MASTERS DEGREE IN MATERIALS SCIENCE.  FROM 1981
UNTIL 1984, COL DRUMMOND SERVED IN THE DIRECTORATE OF AEROSPACE
SUPPORT ENGINEERING IN OTTAWA WHERE HE MANAGED THE AIR FORCE
NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING AND CONDITION MONITORING PROGRAMS.  UPON
PROMOTION TO MAJOR IN 1984, HE WAS POSTED TO THE AEROSPACE
MAINTENANCE DEVELOPMENT UNIT, TRENTON, WHERE HE SERVED AS HEAD OF THE
NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING BRANCH. RETURNING TO OTTAWA IN 1988, COL
DRUMMOND WAS THE AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING OFFICER FOR THE LABRADOR AND
CHINOOK HELICOPTER FLEETS AND MANAGED SEVERAL TACTICAL HELICOPTER
PROJECTS.  HE WAS PROMOTED TO LCOL IN 1991 AND ATTENDED THE CANADIAN
FORCES COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE, RETURNING TO OTTAWA IN 1992 TO
SERVE AS SPECIAL PROJECTS OFFICER FOR THE DIRECTOR GENERAL AEROSPACE
ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE.  FROM 1994 TO 1996, COL DRUMMOND
PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL PROJECTS AIMED AT HELPING THE AIR FORCE AND
NDHQ COPE WITH THE EFFECTS OF DEFENCE BUDGET REDUCTIONS.  IN 1996, HE
WAS APPOINTED PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE MARITIME HELICOPTER PROJECT AND
WEAPON SYSTEM MANAGER FOR THE CH124 SEA KING HELICOPTER FLEET.
COL DRUMMOND WAS PROMOTED TO HIS CURRENT RANK IN 1998 AND WAS
APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING, EDUCATION AND TRAINING.  IN MAY,
1999, COL DRUMMOND RETURNED TO THE MARITIME HELICOPTER PROJECT AS THE
DEPUTY PROJECT MANAGER AND IN DECEMBER, 2001, HE WAS APPOINTED
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE VICE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF.  IN JULY 2004
HE WAS APPOINTED DIRECTOR AIR STAFF COORDINATION AFTER HAVING
COMPLETED THE NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES COURSE.  SINCE JUNE 2005, COL
DRUMMOND HAS MANAGED THE MEDIUM-TO HEAVY-LIFT HELICOPTER PROJECT.
DURING 2008/2009, HE ALSO MANAGED THE ACQUISITION OF SIX CH-147
CHINOOK HELICOPTERS FOR EMPLOYMENT WITH CANADAS JOINT TASK FORCE -
AFGHANISTAN AIR WING.

3.  MEMBERS RETIREMENT PLANS - COL DRUMMOND IS PLANNING IN STAYING IN THE
OTTAWA REGION WITH HIS WIFE NICOLE DRUMMOND AND TWO SONS, JOHN AND
JAMES.

4.  IN HONOUR OF COL DRUMMOND'S RETIREMENT, A LUNCHEON WILL TAKE PLACE AT
THE RCAF OFFICERS MESS, 158 GLOUCESTER STREET, OTTAWA, ON, ON
THURSDAY 25 JUNE 2009 STARTING AT 1130 HRS. PERSONNEL WISHING TO
ATTEND OR PROVIDE CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES, ANECDOTES AND BEST WISHES
ARE REQUESTED TO ADVISE MAJOR STEPHANE GAGNE BY 15 JUNE 2009, AT
STEPHANE.GAGNE6 AT FORCES.GC.CA.OR 819-997-6385. A NOMINAL
CONTRIBUTION OF 25.00 WILL BE REQUIRED IN ADVANCE FOR THE COST OF THE
LUNCHEON, GIFT AND GRATUITIES.
BT