1. ON 2 SEP 2021, MAJOR JAMES D.E. DUQUETTE WILL BE RETIRING FROM THE CAF AFTER 21 YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE, FEW MORE YEARS OF SERVICE, AND THEN FOUR VERY REWARDING YEARS IN AUSTRALIA.

2. MAJOR DUQUETTE FULFILLED A CHILDHOOD DREAM WHEN HE ENROLLED IN THE CAF RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND DEPARTED FOR BASIC TRAINING ON 1 JULY 1991. HE IS PROUD TO HAVE ATTENDED ROYAL ROADS MILITARY COLLEGE (THE MOST MILITANT OF THE CANADIAN MILITARY COLLEGES) BEFORE MOVING TO RMC AND RECEIVING HIS BENG IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING. AS A JUNIOR OFFICER MAJOR DUQUETTE WAS PRIVILEGED TO COMMAND NINE TROOPS INVOLVED IN ALL ASPECTS OF SIGNALS. HIS POSTINGS INCLUDED E SQN 2IC AT CFSCE, 742 COMMS SQN, SIG O AT BOTH 1 GENERAL SUPPORT AND 1 SERVICE BATTALIONS FOLLOWED BY A LONGER THAN EXPECTED STINT LEADING THE TCCCS FIELDING DETACHMENT FOR WESTERN CANADA. PROMOTED TO HIS CURRENT RANK IN 2006, MAJOR DUQUETTE HAS ENJOYED MULTIPLE POSTINGS IN THE ARMY STAFF, AND HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF COMMANDING A SQN BEFORE BECOMING THE OPS O AT CFS LEITRIM. HE THEN ESCAPED THE NCR TO WRITE DOCTRINE, COMPLETE STAFF COLLEGE AND GET A MASTER’S DEGREE BEFORE SPENDING FOUR AWESOME YEARS AS A CYBERSPACE EFFECTS PLANNER WITHIN THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE.

3. MAJOR DUQUETTE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEPLOY TO BOSNIA, THE GOLAN HEIGHTS AND AFGHANISTAN.

4. HIS PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE BEING A PROJECT LEAD FOR THE BUILDING OF A FULLY DIGITISED MULTI-NATIONAL CORPS-LEVEL HQ IN OPERATIONS (ISAF JOINT COMMAND) AND BEING A CATALYST FOR CHANGES TO THE EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT THAT ALLOW CAF MEMBERS RETURNING FROM OPERATIONS TO ACCESS FULL PARENTAL LEAVE BENEFITS.

5. ALONG THE WAY, MAJOR DUQUETTE WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO MARRY HIS WIFE ANNE, HAD TWO GREAT KIDS, EXPERIENCED A LOT OF COOL THINGS, FAILED A LOT OF PUBLIC SERVICE LANGUAGE EXAMS AND ENDURED SOME SIZEABLE FRUSTRATIONS. HE IS THANKFUL FOR THE GREAT PEOPLE THAT HE HAS WORKED WITH OVER THE YEARS AND TREASURES THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT DEVELOPED ALONG THE WAY. MAJOR DUQUETTE WILL CELEBRATE THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ENTRY INTO THE CAF BY FLYING BACK TO CANADA TO TAKE HIS RELEASE. HE WILL THEN REUNITE WITH HIS FAMILY IN AUSTRALIA AND START A NEW CAREER AS A CYBER WARFARE OFFICER WITHIN THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE.

6. AS A RESULT OF COMPRESSED TIMELINES AND COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS THERE WILL BE NO FORMAL DEPART WITH DIGNITY CEREMONY. INSTEAD, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES ARE INVITED TO EXTEND WELL WISHES AND TO RE-LIVE GOOD MEMORIES VIA EMAIL AT [email protected].