1. MAJOR DEREK MCDOWELL WILL RETIRE FROM THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES ON 02 OCTOBER 2020 AFTER SERVING MORE THAN A TOTAL OF 34 YEARS, INCLUDING A YEAR IN THE PRIMARY RESERVES AND 33 YEARS IN THE REGULAR FORCE.

2, IN 1985, DEREK JOINED THE INFANTRY MILITIA AS A NCM WTH 1 RNBR A COY AT EDMUNDSTON, N.B. IN 1987, HE THEN ENROLLED IN THE CAF AS A RADIO OPERATOR. UPON COMPLETION OF BASIC AND QL3 TRADE TRAINING, DEREK WOULD REMAIN IN KINGSTON AND BE POSTED TO 1 CDHSR IN 1988. DURING HIS REGIMENTAL TOUR, HE WAS EMPLOYED IN 2, 3, 4 SQN AND KILO TP RESPECTIVELY. IN 1997, DEREK WAS POSTED TO 1BDE LDSH(RC) RECCE SQUADRON. UPON PROMOTION TO MCPL, HE WAS POSTED TO 3 PPCLI ADM COY IN 2000. IN 2004, DEREK WAS POSTED TO DGIMO OPS AND WAS PROMOTED TO SGT THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

3. UPON BEING COMMISSIONED AS A SIGNALS OFFICER IN 2007, DEREK WAS POSTED TO CFNOC AS THE COMPUTER NETWORK DEFENCE TROOP COMMANDER AND SUBSEQUENTLY AS THE CAF NETWORK DEFENCE OPERATIONS OFFICER (2008-2011). HE THEN WAS POSTED TO 76 COMM GP HQ; ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDED DEPLOYED OPERATIONS AND MAJOR EXERCISE OFFICER; CANADIAN FORCES CRYPTO SUPPORT UNIT OPERATIONS OFFICER AND DEPUTY COMMANDING OFFICER; AND AS THE SECOND IN COMMAND OF CFCSS. IN 2017, DEREK WAS PROMOTED TO MAJOR AND POSTED TO DLCI AS THE G6 PLANS OFFICER. IN 2019, HE WAS POSTED TO TC OTTAWA.

5. DEREK ALSO COMPLETED MULTIPLE OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENTS: OP FRICTION WITH 90 HQ AND SIGNS SQUADRON (1990/91); OP SNOWGOOSE WITH 254 SIGNALS SQUADRON (1992); OP ALLIANCE WITH 5 BATAILLON DES SERVICE (1996/97); OP PRUDENCE WITH 1CDHSR (1998); OP KINETIC ROTO 0 WITH LDSH(RC) RECCE SQN (1999/2000); AND OP APOLLO ROTO 0 WITH 3PPCLI ADM COY (2002).

5. DEREK WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL INDIVIDUALS HE HAS HAD THE DISTINCT PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ALONG WITH THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

6. DEREK WILL BE SPENDING MORE TIME WITH HIS FAMILY AND ROAMING THE OTTAWA VALLEY TRAILS.

7. DUE TO COVID-19, THERE WILL BE NO DWD FUNCTION.

8. BEST WISHES AND CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES MAY BE SENT TO [email protected].