CORNWALL, Ontario – The Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations (CFSACO) held their Change of Command ceremony on July 4 at the Nav Centre where they are based.
After two years as Commandant, Col. Chris Horner passed the reigns on to Lt. Col. Kevin Ciesielski in the presence of CFSACO members, Wing 16 Commander Col. J.P.P. Godbout, RCAF Commander Lt. Gen. A.D. Meinzinger, Mayor of Cornwall Bernadette Clement, MP Guy Lauzon and other dignitaries.
Col. Horner has been assigned as Deputy Commander of the Joint Force Cyber Component, but before leaving CFSACO, Horner reflected on his time with the school.
“How do you have excellence? Above all, you focus on people,” Horner said. “That has been my challenge and my greatest reward of the past two years.”
Horner also praised those under his former command.
“To the Falcons, in the presence of the Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, let me take five minutes to tell him why this is one of the greatest units in the Air Force,” he said. “We tool away and build the next generation of war fighters.”
Lt. Col Cielsielski, explained that he had three “R”s he wanted to focus on during his two year tenure as the new Commandant of CFSACO, responsibility, respect, and resiliency.
“The RCAF needs you to be ready and able at all times throughout your career,” Cielsielski said of resiliency. “You cannot put off your health and fitness to tomorrow. Responsibility, respect and resiliency, consider these my first orders to you. I am excited to be here, and I am ready to get to work.”
Col. Horner, Col. Godbout and Lt. Col. Cielsielski signed the documentation officially transferring command and an informal transfer was made when Horner passed CFSACO’s mascot, a live falcon, over to Cielsielski.
CFSACO is a school which trains aerospace controllers for the RCAF.
