MAVA Executive
Paul Baiden
President
Paul joined the RCN in 1963 and was posted to HMCS Shearwater where he re-mustered to Observer and received his wings in 1967. He served in that MOC (now known as an Airborne Electronic Sensor Operator) for the remainder of his career.
Paul accumulated a total of 7115 flight hours during his extensive 25 year Maritime flying career which included 4 aircraft types; the Tracker, Sea King, Argus and Aurora, and six squadrons; VS 880, HS 50, VT 406, VP 415, MR 880/ABATS and VP 407. This period also included service in HCMS Bonaventure where he endured the rigours of 63 catapult launches and 70 arrested landings. He also logged a total of 607 destroyer deck landings while flying Sea Kings with HS 50 in HCMS Ottawa.
Paul was recognized several times throughout his military career for performance above and beyond the call of duty, in particular the Star of Courage, awarded in recognition of an act of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril. He completed his 32 years of service in Ottawa as the EWEDC Data Base Manager, responsible for executive level decisions/guidance to senior staff of NATO’s Electronic Warfare Division during the first Gulf War and in the Bosnia/Kosovo era.
Paul has spent the last 24 years on the executive of VPI and helped develop guidelines for MAVA.
Gaston Cloutier
Vice President
Gaston joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in August 1968. Having been raised on a small farm near a small village in Québec, it was quite a shock to arrive at the Collège Militaire Royal de St-Jean (CMR). Gaston somehow graduated from CMR in 1973. The RCAF, having released about 500 pilots in 1966, advised that you had to be ‘perfect’ to be accepted as a pilot, which was not the case for Gaston. Gaston was adamant to be aircrew, so he obtained his Nav Wings in the fall of 1973. Gaston’s first operational squadron was 405 Sqn where he became a TACCO.
Gaston’s dream to become a pilot was fulfilled as the CAF realized in 1976 that they were short of pilots. Gaston obtained his Pilot Wings in November 1978 and went on to spend four years on Trackers in Shearwater and Summerside. Gaston was then posted to 424 Sqn flying Buffalos as a Major. Other operational tours included CO of 442 Sqn and Wing Commander 8 Wing Trenton.
Gaston graduated from the Command and Staff College in 1987 and was posted to Ottawa in the Directorate responsible for Military Colleges. Other staff jobs included staff officer in the NDHQ Secretariat, EA to VCDS, Director of the national Cadet Program, Director of the Air Staff, DG Air Personnel. Gaston retired from the Reg Force at the rank of BGen in 2006 and joined the Res Force in 2007 as a Special Project Officer for the Deputy Commander of the RCAF. He retired for the second time in 2010. That year, Gaston became the Director General of the Gatineau Airport. Gaston is quite proud of having managed a project that saw the construction of taxiways and a major extension to the terminal building. Gaston retired for the last time in October 2022.
Gaston has two wonderful daughters from his first marriage and two super stepdaughters. Holly and Gaston reside in Orleans.
Bob Moffatt
Treasurer
Bob joined the RCAF in 1962, trained as an RO, did a tour with 405 Squadron and then, while flying on Test Flight, lost his category because of an ear that didn’t like flying. He transferred to Air Traffic Control and had postings in Greenwood, Bagotville, Goose Bay and Trenton. He ended his career as a Staff Officer at NDHQ in charge of the administration of the Forces Reduction Program, which made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. He retired in 1995.
In 1999 he suffered a near-fatal brain aneurysm from which came many unexplained side-effects: he is now afraid of flying, heights, crowds, loud noises and Norwegians.
Bob Blouin
Secretary
Bob’s experience with the Army cadets and Army Militia, combined with a desire to see the world formed his motivation to join the RCAF in 1967. He was trained as an ESO (Electronic System Officer) also known as an RO (Radio Officer) and thereafter as an ANAV (Air Navigator). His entire military carrier was spent in the Atlantic Provinces with Maritime Command, splitting his postings between CFB Summerside, VP415 and MP&EU (Maritime Proving and Evaluation Unit), and CFB Greenwood VP405, MP&EU (he was there during the move) and ASDU (Aurora Software Development Unit).
While in Greenwood Bob obtained his Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) degree from Acadia University. Accumulating more than 5000 flying hours, mainly on the Argus and a little bit on the Aurora, Bob was thoroughly familiarized with the North Atlantic part of the world (mainly water!). Retiring in 1988, he co-founded Nova-Data System, still in Greenwood, providing a software solution for car and property insurance ratings to Insurance Brokers across Canada. After 10 years, his competitor made him an offer he could not refuse.
In 1998 he moved to Ottawa, where he has twice been brought out of retirement by General Dynamics Canada to work on the SH-60 acoustic processors, the Aurora Project and the Maritime Helicopter Project software updates. He and his wife, Louise still enjoy regular traveling in their quest to see the world.
Barry Morris
Sports Coordinator
Barry graduated from Royal Roads and the Royal Military College in 1966 with a BSc in electrical engineering. He proceeded to Winnipeg for Radio Officer training and then to Comox. A posting to Royal Roads was next followed by two years in Winterpeg for the Aerospace Systems Course and cross training to Air Navigator and then to Comox again. He then went cross country to Greenwood at MPEU and then to NDHQ with DMA.
After 25 years, it was time to settle down for family stuff and he went to work for the Federal Government in the Department of Supply and Services in contracting in the Aerospace Marine and Electronics Sector for 17 Years. He finally retired for a second time to pursue various secret areas of interest.
Hank Tourigny
Assistant Sports Coordinator
Hank joined the RCAF in 1963, trained as a navigator. He had tours on 405 and 404 Squadron and two tours at Air Navigation School in Winnipeg. He was an instructor at the School of Instructional Techniques at CFB Borden, followed by a tour as Military Commander at Fox Main on the Dewline. CO of the Recruiting Center in Sudbury and Northern Ontario and Quebec, which after Staff College, led to a tour at NDHQ, Directorate of Recruiting as Director of advertising.
He retired after 27.5 years from the Canadian Forces Language School after completing four years as the Chief Standards Officer. He then went on to work for Interlangues Language School for 25 years as Project Manager. His responsibilities included the Canadian Forces Foreign Language Program contract. He now enjoys travelling, golf and cottage.
Ernest Cable
Historian
Following graduation from Royal Roads and Royal Military College Ernie received his wings at the Air Navigation School in Winnipeg in 1966. After completing operational training in Summerside PEI, he was transferred to 404 Squadron in Greenwood where he became known as “Joe Ocean” for introducing oceanography into ASW mission planning. Ernie’s next posting took him to 449 Squadron as a tactics and oceanography instructor.
Following graduation from the Aerospace Systems Course in Winnipeg in 1972, Ernie was posted on exchange duties to the U.S. Navy, Naval Air Development Center in Warminster PA where he was responsible for the software design and systems flight testing for the P-3C Orion Update, and training the first U.S. Navy squadron to convert to the updated Orion.
Following a year at Staff College, Ernie’s experience with the U.S. Navy proved invaluable during his next posting to the Aurora Program Office in Ottawa as the Operational Requirements Manager and later as the Director of Requirements. In 1980, Ernie returned to Greenwood where he led 405 Squadron in transition from the Argus to the CP-140 Aurora. The highlight on 405 was winning the coveted Fincastle trophy in Australia in the Aurora’s first appearance in the Commonwealth ASW competition.
Ernie’s following postings included; Training System HQ, Trenton; MARCOM/MARLANT HQ, Halifax; and Maritime Air Group, Halifax from where he retired as Deputy Commander in 1995. Ernie volunteered at the Shearwater Aviation Museum and was acknowledged as an authority on maritime and naval aviation history. In 2014, Ernie and wife, Carol, moved to Ottawa to be closer to family.
Brook Bangsboll
Sgt-at-Arms (Holy Mackerel)
Born at Fort Bragg North Carolina, Brook comes from a long line of military service within his family. Brook’s paternal grandfather was an Admiral in the Danish Navy and his maternal grandfather served with the 116th Battalion of the Canadian Army during World War I. His Danish-born father served in the Danish Navy, Norwegian Air Force and ultimately served a full career in the United States Army. Both of his brothers served in the Canadian Navy and United States Army respectively.
Upon completing high school in Toronto Canada, Brook, following his father’s footsteps, joined the U.S. Army. Upon completion of the United States Military Academy (West Point) Preparatory College, he returned to Canada, completed his Bachelor’s degree at York University in the field of Economics and Political Science in 1984. It was at this time that Brook chose to pursue a military career within the Canadian Armed Forces.
A professionally trained and tested Senior Logistics Officer / Senior Manager in the field of transportation and air movements, Brook has thirty-five years of experience in the Canadian Armed Forces / Royal Canadian Air Force. He possesses extensive leadership skills which were developed and honed at the national level as well as on international assignments and deployed operations. He has over 2000 hours logged as a operational loadmaster in the strategic, tactical, and search & rescue roles on the CC-130 Hercules, and the A310 Airbus (Polaris) aircraft.
Brook developed his transportation logistics skills at a variety of operational assignments and leadership positions across Canada, including Base Transportation at CFB Moose Jaw, 1 Air Movements Squadron and 435 Tactical Airlift Squadron at CFB Edmonton, at 426 Squadron and Air Transport Headquarters in Trenton, at Air Command Headquarters in Winnipeg and as the Wing Administration Officer at 14 Wing Greenwood. Brook and his family also enjoyed foreign assignments at NORAD Headquarters in Colorado Springs supporting fighter operations and as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commander. He also served a tour of duty at the Pentagon, Washington D.C. where Brook was the Senior Canadian Logistician on the United States Joint Staff. In the last stage of his career, he was the Director of Transportation for the Canadian Armed Forces and retired as the Chief of Staff for the Director General Compensation and Benefits.
Throughout his career, Brook consistently choose operational assignments and sought deployment opportunities over the more routine, staff positions. As a result, he participated in major Canadian missions, including United Nations Peace Keeping mission in Cyprus, deploying to Qatar and Kuwait during the Gulf War, participating in numerous Humanitarian Airlift missions in Africa and tactical airlift operations with NATO in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Brook served with NORAD and participated in numerous Canadian sovereignty operations in the high Arctic. Most recently, Brook was the Commanding Officer of the Canadian base in Kuwait on a year-long assignment as part of the coalition air combat mission against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
An avid military history buff, Brook earned his Master’s degree in Military History / War Studies through the Royal Military College of Canada in 2005 and completed the United States Air Forces’ Command and Staff College in 2006. Brook is the author of historical novel / biography which depicts his father’s impressive military career which spans the Danish Navy, Norwegian Air Force and the United States Army and who saw combat in both World War II and the Korean War as well as serving as a field agent with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The book is currently being marketed for publication.
Brook retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in August 2020 as a Lieutenant-Colonel after an exciting and rewarding 35-year career.
Upon retiring from the RCAF, he took on the role of Director of Corporate Services for the National Office of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires where he worked until January 2023. Brook now offers his consulting services in the field of Defence, Security and Logistics and is the Chief Executive Officer of Valhalla Consulting which operates from the National Capital Region.
Brook remains active within his community – playing ice hockey, skiing and hiking. He enjoys volunteering for worthy causes, including the Canadian Soldier-On program, the British military’s Help for Hero’s charity, and the United States’ Wounded Warrior Program. He volunteered for and was the ground transportation coordinator for the Invictus Games, held in Toronto in 2017.
Brook joined the RCAF Association, 410 (LCol William Barker, VC) Wing, Ottawa, in 2017 and recently was appointed as 410 Wing’s Chairperson for its Executive Board of Directors. Brook is also an active member of the Naval Aviation Veterans Association and a member of the Order of St. George. Brook recently joined the Board of Directors for the Canadian Battlefield Foundation.
Brook is married to Jan Kennedy of Montreal, and they have two fabulous children; a son who lives and works in Toronto as the Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at an international consulting firm and a daughter currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Bio-Mechanical Engineering at the University of Calgary.
RAYMOND A. MCINNIS
Service Officer
Ray was born in Glace Bay, Cape Breton and joined the Canadian Armed Forces in June, 1977. He served for 26 years in the Regular Force as an Administration Clerk and retired in July 2003 as a Chief Warrant Officer. He served in all environments, the Navy, Army and Air Force.
He transferred to the Reserve Force in 2003 and worked in the Directorate of Quality of Life and the Directorate Military Family Services until 2011 working on family policy, mental health, family violence and deployment support. He then joined The Royal Canadian Legion as a Service Officer with Dominion Command in April 2011.
In 2013 he was appointed Deputy Director, Veterans Services and became the Director in 2014. He retired in December 2022.
Ray is a Board member with the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans and is enthusiastic about continuing assisting Veterans as the Service Officer for the Maritime Air Veterans Association.
He is an avid golfer, and resides in Orleans with his wife Sherri (also a military Veteran). His two adult daughters, Sarah and Jennifer live in Orleans.
e-mail : raymondmcinnis@gmail.com
cell: 613-769-0993
Duane Daly
Past President (20 May 2015 – 11 September 2018)
Duane joined 415 Sqn, Summerside in 1967 and the co-located MP&EU in 1971, before attending the Aerospace Systems Course (ASC) in 1975. The MP&EU experience proved invaluable on his exchange posting with USN VX-1 Sqn in “Pax River”, MD in 1976. After the Argus, he was amazed to fly in a Test environment with all new ASW and Weapon systems and “limitless” resources and flight hours.
Follow-on postings included Staff College, DMA, BADO Summerside, RAF College of Air Warfare, CO 415 Sqn, Director Air Requirements (Maritime), Base Commander Summerside and Commander Northern Area.
Duane retired early from the Air Force in 1995 to become Dominion Secretary of The Royal Canadian Legion at its National HQ in Ottawa and spent 14 years serving Canada’s Veterans. The highlight of his time with the Legion was initiating and leading the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Project, implemented in a major National Ceremony in 2000. Following retirement from the Legion in 2009, Duane was one of the Co-Founders of The Young Citizens Foundation with which he remains today as the Vice President. Duane looks forward to continued membership and support of the Maritime Air Veterans Association, and retains his membership with the Legion and the RCAF Association. In the quiet moments he enjoys his hobby as a coin collector.
Jim McCutcheon
Past President (11 Sep 2018 – 27 Sep 2023)
Jim commenced his working career in the Federal Government as a Forestry Research assistant. He obtained a pilots licence in 1967, which then ricocheted into an air force career. Qualified as an ANav and Tacco, his aircrew time centred on operational ASW flying with the Argus firstly in the Atlantic, thence the Pacific. He did a stint in air cadet liaison including nearly 600 flights as a flying instructor and glider camp OIC, and including 2 or 3 NDE’s.
Requisite time at NDHQ led to a post grad degree in psychology in 1986, and a long bout of personnel employments, which he felt were mostly more like “hobbies” than work. A highlight was a USAF exchange at San Antonio, where he lucked in to the job of conducting an occupational analysis of USAF pilots. Many such OA projects ultimately led to a DND civilian career at NDHQ and a final ten years as a personnel policy section head. He retired in 2014 and now spends most of his time as grounds-keeper, pool maintenance guy, dog walker, chauffeur, loans officer, sports novice, nanny, linguist and seeker/imparter of wisdom, which appears, along with vulnerability under water-boarding, to have qualified him for president of MAVA
Canon Stephen Silverthorne
Honorary Chaplain
Fr. Stephen completed his seminary training at Wycliffe College, Toronto. He was ordained in the Anglican Church of Canada in May 2002, and has served in parishes in Cornwall, Long Sault and Barrhaven, Ontario. He served as Chaplain to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 569 in Long Sault, Ontario, until his posting to Barrhaven in 2014. He currently serves as Rector of Good Shepherd parish in Barrhaven.
He has served as chaplain to MAVA since 2016 and maintains his membership in the Legion. He enjoys the fellowship both organizations bring and appreciates the opportunity to contribute in a small way to the spiritual wellbeing of those who have given service to our nation in the military. He is married, with four young daughters. He maintains an interest in cinema, philosophy, cooking and home brewing beer.