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NORAD vice, Lt. Gen. Bouchard, visits Tinker’s ACW

  • Published
  • By Brandice Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  Nov. 5 brought a special guest to the 552nd Air Control Wing. Canadian air force Lt. Gen. J.J.C. "Charlie" Bouchard visited both the American and Canadian components of the wing to see the organization in action and meet its Airmen.

During his visit, the general, who is the deputy commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., toured an AWACS aircraft, met with the wing's senior leadership to discuss their mission and how the 552nd ACW and NORAD can better support one another. General Bouchard also informed the Canadian component on defense and support news from home. During his visit, he praised all Airmen for their continuous efforts to accomplish the mission.

"At the end of the day, if I did only one thing, it would be to shake the hands of every Canadian and U.S. personnel that works here to say 'Thank you for what you're doing. You're doing a great job and both the Canadian and U.S. leadership appreciate your support,'" General Bouchard said.

To the 43 members of the Canadian component and their spouses in attendance, General Bouchard said, "Canada is proud of you and what you're doing. You're representing your country with pride, excellence and dignity."

The general said it was his second visit to Tinker. His first was approximately five to six years ago. But, as a senior Canadian who supervises the 552nd ACW Canadian Component and deputy commander of NORAD, a U.S. and Canadian command responsible for aerospace warning and control of North America, he is quite familiar with the air control wing and its mission.

"As with the last time, I'm equally proud and impressed with the performance of the 552nd [ACW] wing as I am with the Canadian participation in this great effort," the general said. "When I look at the entire spectrum of operations supporting the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan to defending our homeland, it's just impressive to see the range of activity done here and the flexibility of the people. It's just a fantastic effort." The 552nd ACW's senior leadership agreed.

"We're honored that General Bouchard, the highest ranking Canadian officer in NORAD, was able to visit our wing, which has more than 40 Canadian Airmen fully integrated into AWACS flying operations," said Col. Patricia Hoffman, 552nd ACW commander. "He passed on his thanks to the 552nd ACW Airmen for their outstanding performance, supporting the President of the United States when he travels around the country, assisting civil authorities during disaster relief operations, such as the recent Hurricanes Gustav and Ike where we controlled search and rescue operations to save hundreds of lives, and enforcing the sovereignty of U.S. airspace."