Henri Levasseur, RCAFA Chairman’s Message – December 2025

Following the recent elections and Annual General Meeting of the Association, the members of the Board of Directors expressed their confidence in me by appointing me Chairman of the Board for the coming year. It is with both humility and pride that I accept this mandate.

I would first like to extend my gratitude to several individuals who have contributed to the success of the Association over the past years:

• Col (Ret’d) Terry Chester, who has assumed the chairmanship of the Association on several occasions, both in fair weather and in stormy skies, has been our Chair for over eight years, non-consecutively. His vast experience and leadership enabled the Association to overcome many challenges. Terry was the author and designer of the Strategic Transition Plan that was briefed to the members at the recent AGM. His message, published in the latest edition of Airforce magazine, outlines the path that we are taking to rebuild our Association.
• LGen (Ret’d) André Deschamps, Honorary President of the Association for many years, who continues to provide us with strategic guidance.
• LCol (Ret’d) Dr. Dean Black, who until very recently served as Executive Director of the Association. An inexhaustible source of corporate and historical knowledge, his commitment to the Association was exceptional. Dean remains available to the Association through the Strategic Advisory group.
• All members of the Board of Directors of the Association, who continue their important work for the Association and to meet numerous challenges, often behind the scenes.
• Lcol (Ret’d) Brook Bangsboll, Executive Director of the Association, who quickly committed himself to ensuring a seamless transition with Dean Black. His contribution to the Association has been marked by noteworthy consistency and intensity.
• Mr. Peter Studer and MGen (Ret’d) Colin Keiver of CFN Consultants, who generously provide the Association with office space and their unwavering support.

As you know, the Association has embarked on a transition of its business model in order to meet the challenges of our time and to regain its relevance among our members, Canadian citizens, the aerospace industries, political decision-makers, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. We aspire to be the voice of military aviation and a driver of added value. More than ever, your membership and steadfast support of the Association are essential and enable us to carry this message forward.

To all those who serve and who have served in your Royal Canadian Air Force, as well as those who hold it dear, I invite you to become members of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association so that its mission, its voice, and the interests of your Royal Canadian Air Force may be carried high and strong. We need you.

To review the mission and objectives of your Association, I invite you to consult our website.