16 APRIL/MAY 2020 www.vanguardcanada.com
interView
is Foundational
to the Future
RCAF
A Royal Canadian Air Force CT-155 Hawk from 419 Tactical
Fighter (Training) Squadron takes-off during Exercise
MAPLE FLAG 51. Photo: DND
By MARCELLO SuKHDEO
IntervIew wIth Col PJW SaunderS,
DIrector AIr SImulAtIon AnD
trAInIng, royAl cAnADIAn AIr Force
Fact
A
s the Future Aircrew Train-
ing (FAcT) Program con-
tinues to unfold, Vanguard
once again had the opportu-
nity to speak with Col Saun-
ders about the FAcT program and to get a
better understanding of this complex and
extensive industry-managed program for
the future of the RCAF.
Col Saunders started his career with the
Canadian Forces in March 1990. Over the
span of his somewhat atypical and discon-
tinuous career, Col Saunders has enjoyed
operational postings flying and instruct-
ing on his beloved Sea King Helicopters
at 443 (MH) Sqn in Pat Bay, British Co-
lumbia; 423 (MH) Sqn, and 12 Wing Op-
erations in Shearwater, Nova Scotia; cul-
minating in Command of 406 (M) OTS
where he had the somewhat ignominious
distinction of being at the helm for the ces-
sation of all Sea King training. Through-
out this period, he has served in HMCS
Annapolis, HMCS Iroquois, HMCS Fred-
ericton, HMCS Toronto and was deployed
throughout the Middle East.
His staff postings to date include two
stints in the Career Management shop, the
last being a two-year sojourn as DMilC4.
He was responsible for guiding, managing
and, at times, cajoling some 300 high-main-
tenance LCols and overseeing the manage-
ment of almost 10,000 other members of
the RCAF. He also spent three years
on a self-imposed educational posting to
the Chief of Programme office where he
learned the corporate side of the Depart-
ment of National Defence. Some of his
work included analysing financial risk to the
Departmental Investment Plan and taking
a lead in drafting the next iteration of this
document for governmental consideration.
