There is a new commanding officer at the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 436 Transport Squadron.
Lieutenant-Colonel Kyle Welsh assumed his new position during a ceremony held at 8 Wing Trenton on Friday.
LCol Welsh takes over for LCol James Brown.
“It is my honour and privilege to command the 436 Transport Squadron, whose members take pride in providing crucial tactical and strategic airlift for the Canadian Armed Forces,” said LCol Welsh in a release. “I am confident that our hard-working members will maintain the high standard in the operation of the CC130J Hercules that Lieutenant-Colonel Brown set during his time here.”
Canada’s National Defence provided the following background info on the new commanding officer:
“LCol Kyle Welsh was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. Upon completing high school, he joined the Royal Canadian Naval Reserves as a Naval Combat Information Operator in June 2000. Upon graduating from Western University in April 2004, LCol Welsh transferred to the Regular Force as a RCAF Pilot, and received his Pilot’s Wings in November 2007.
LCol Welsh’s first operational posting was with 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron in Winnipeg, Manitoba. During this posting he completed two deployments flying the CU170 Heron Remotely Piloted Aircraft System during Operation (Op) ATHENA (Kandahar Province, Afghanistan). Upon returning to Canada in 2010, LCol Welsh was posted to 429 Transport Squadron and completed a tour flying the CC177 Globemaster. His next posting was with 436 Transport Squadron, where he completed a flying supervisor’s tour on the CC130J Hercules. While at 436 Squadron, LCol Welsh deployed in support of Op IMPACT (Kuwait), Op PRESENCE (Mali), Op LENTUS 17-4 (B.C. wildfires), and four OPEN SKIES missions. LCol Welsh has spent more than 28 months on overseas deployments and has accumulated approximately 3700 hours of flight time.
LCol Welsh has a Master of Public Administration Degree, a Master of Defense Studies Degree, and an undergraduate degree in Commercial Aviation Management. He has also completed the Joint Command and Staff Program and the Army Operations Course.
LCol Welsh currently lives in Peterborough with his wife Stefanie, two daughters Nina and Elyse and their cat, Shadow. In his spare time, he enjoys socializing with his family and friends, flying general aviation aircraft, playing hockey, scuba diving, and camping.”
