EXPERIENCE THAT DELIVERS

 

Thumbnail Image 1

 

FRED SUTHERLAND

6014 Lieutenant-General Fred Sutherland (RMC 1965) was born in February 1942 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Being the son of a service officer, he was raised and educated in several provinces throughout Canada and West Germany.

LGen Sutherland attended le Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean and subsequently graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, in 1965 with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics. While at RMC, he received several academic and athletic awards; in addition, he was the captain of both the varsity hockey and football teams.

In 1966, LGen Sutherland completed his pilot training at CFB Gimli, Manitoba, and was selected to attend Flying Instructor School at CFB Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. He served as an Advanced Jet nstructor on the T-33 Silver Star at Gimli from 1966 until 1969, and then was posted to Central Flying School as an examining officer until 1971. Later in 1971, he entered the University of Western Ontario and graduated two years later with a Master of Business Administration.

While attending university he was promoted to the rank of major. Between 1973 and 1975, LGen Sutherland served as a staff officer with the Directorate of Air Requirements at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario. After completion of his tour in Ottawa, he began training on the CF-104 Starfighter at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta. In 1976, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and posted overseas to attend the Royal Air Force Air Warfare course at Cranwell, England. That same year he was appointed Commanding Officer of 439 (Tiger) Squadron at CFB Baden-Soellingen. Returning to Canada in 1978, he served as the Executive Assistant to the Commander of Air Command.

In 1980, he was promoted to colonel and posted to NDHQ as the Director of Air Operations, Training, and Nuclear Weapons. During this tour, he also served as the Honorary Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency the Govenor-General. He assumed command of CFB Cold Lake in July 1982, where he oversaw the implementation of the CF-18 Hornet. Upon relinquishing command in July 1984, he was promoted to brigadier-general and seconded to the Privy Council Office in the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat. LGen Sutherland was promoted to major-general in July 1986 and assumed the appointment of Chief of Personnel Development at NDHQ. In July 1989, he was promoted to lieutenant-general, and on 4 August 1989, he assumed command of Air Command.

In August 1991 he was appointed and served as the Vice-Chief of Defence Staff until his retirement from the Canadian Forces in June 1992. Upon leaving the Canadian Forces, LGen Sutherland was employed as the Deputy Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism for the Province of Manitoba. Prior to assuming his current appointment as a member of the Senior Directing Staff at the Canadian Forces College, he spent two years as Corporate Vice-President Human Resources with McCain Foods Ltd. As a pilot in command, LGen Sutherland has accumulated over 3500 hours in training and fighter jet aircraft and some 4000 total flying hours. In July 1984, he was appointed to the Order of Military Merit in the grade of Officer and promoted to the grade of Commander in January 1989.

LGen Sutherland is married to the former Heather McCullagh of London, Ontario. They have two sons: Christopher and Rob.

 

 

 



Contact Us

David Tavenor and Associates Inc.
P: 416.520.0456