1. COL ERIC CYR, CD WILL RETIRE FROM THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES AFTER 34+ YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO CANADA ON 3 JULY 2022.
2. COLONEL CYR JOINED THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES IN 1988, ATTENDING THE COLLEGE MILITAIRE ROYAL DE ST-JEAN AND GRADUATED WITH A BACHELOR’S IN ENGINEERING PHYSICS IN 1993 FROM THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE IN KINGSTON, ONTARIO.
HE HELD SEVERAL STAFF AND OPERATIONAL POSITIONS THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, INCLUDING: NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND (NORAD) TOURS AT 12 SPACE WARNING SQUADRON, THULE AIR BASE, GREENLAND AND AT CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN AIR FORCE STATION, COLORADO SPRINGS. IN 2008, HE SERVED AS THE OFFICER COMMANDING 8 WING TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION SERVICES SQUADRON, AND AS THE OFFICER COMMANDING 8 MISSION SUPPORT SQUADRON (8 MSS).
IN JANUARY 2010, HE DEPLOYED THE MSS, ON OPERATION HESTIA IN HAITI, FOLLOWING THE EARTHQUAKE TO SUPPORT AIR OPERATIONS AND HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS. IN JUNE 2010, HE REDEPLOYED TO THE THEATRE SUPPORT ELEMENT IN CAMP MIRAGE, LEADING THE ENGINEERING AND LOGISTICS SUPPORT SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE AFGHANISTAN MISSION, AND SUCCESSFULLY CLOSED THE CAMP ON SHORT NOTICE.
HE BECAME THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS AND GRADUATED FROM THE JOINT COMMAND AND STAFF PROGRAM AT CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE IN JULY 2013 WITH A MASTER’S DEGREE IN DEFENSE STUDIES. COLONEL CYR SERVED AS THE STRATEGIC CYBER AND INFORMATION OPERATIONS OFFICER WITHIN THE STRATEGIC JOINT STAFF, AS THE DIRECTOR INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INTEROPERABILITY IN CHARGE OF SEVERAL ALLIED INTEROPERABILITY PROJECTS, AND COMMANDED 22 WING MISSION SUPPORT SQUADRON. HE THEN SERVED AS THE DEPUTY COMMANDER OF 7 COMMUNICATION GROUP AND WILL RETIRE HAVING SERVED AS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS (DGIMO).
3. COL CYR AND HIS WIFE LISA ALONG WITH THEIR TWO CHILDREN KYLE AND MADISON WILL BE RELOCATING TO KELOWNA BC, WHERE HE WILL CONTINUE HIS SERVICE TO CANADA AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, ASSUMING THE POSITION OF DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF SUPPORT FOR DGIMO. A RETIREMENT CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE CFS LEITRIM IN THE ALL RANKS MESS AT 1300 HRS FRIDAY, 08 JULY 2022. IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND PLEASE EMAIL CWO JAMES MARSHALL AT [email protected].
4. COL CYR EXTENDS HIS THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO ALL MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL WHO HAVE SERVED WITH HIM OVER THE YEARS, EITHER AS PEERS, SUPERVISORS OR SUBORDINATES. MOST OF ALL, HE RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE IMMEASURABLE SUPPORT OF HIS FAMILY THROUGHOUT THOSE YEARS. AS THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK, A PROPER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE DONE AT HIS UPCOMING RETIREMENT CEREMONY. ANECDOTES, TALL TALES AND WELL WISHES ARE MOST WELCOME AND CAN BE SENT TO CWO MARSHALL AT [email protected]