Michael Hood Explained

Michael J. Hood
Allegiance:Canada
Serviceyears:1985 - 2018
Rank:Lieutenant General
Branch:Royal Canadian Air Force
Commands:429 Tactical Airlift Squadron
436 Tactical Airlift Squadron
8 Wing Trenton
Royal Canadian Air Force
Awards:Commander of the Order of Military Merit[1]

Lieutenant-General Michael John Hood is a retired senior Royal Canadian Air Force officer who was Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force from 2015 until 2018.

Early life and education

In addition to holding a master's degree in International Relations from Auburn University, Hood also holds certifications from Canada's National Security Program and the United States' Air Force Command and Staff College.

Career

Hood joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1985.[2] He earned his Air Combat Systems Officer Wings in 1988. Most of his flight career was spent on the C-130 Hercules. Hood also served a tour as an Electronic Warfare Officer on the CC-144 Challenger.

After serving as Commanding Officer of both 429 Tactical Airlift Squadron and 436 Tactical Airlift Squadron, he became Plans Officer at Canadian Expeditionary Force Command Headquarters in January 2006. Following this, he became Commander of 8 Wing Trenton in June 2007.[3]

Hood went on to become Director General Air Force Development in 2010, Deputy Director General of International Security Policy in June 2011 and Deputy Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force in September 2012.[4] After that he became Director of Staff of the Strategic Joint Staff in June 2013[5] and finally Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force in July 2015.[6] He retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in May 2018.[7]

Post-retirement

Following his career in the military, in 2018 Hood went on to become an executive in a Vancouver-based energy and mining firm. [8]

In May 2020, Hood wrote an op-ed in the National Post entitled "Securing Canadian sovereignty in a post-COVID world."[9]

Awards and decorations

As witness the photograph by the Toronto Star, Hood had received as of his appointment to RCAF Commander in July 2015 the following Orders and Decorations:[10]




RibbonDescriptionNotes
Order of Military Merit (CMM)
  • Appointed Commander (CMM) on 17 October 2012[11]
  • 1991, with Clasp
  • 2004 Afghanistan
  • with NATO-OTAN Clasp
  • With Humanitas Clasp
NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
  • with FORMER YUGOSLAVIA clasp
Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD)
  • with two Clasp for 32 years of services
  • Decoration awarded on 27 May 2017[12]
  • Degree of Grand Officer
  • Decoration awarded on 1 August 2020[13]
  • Commander level

References

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Order of Military Merit Investiture Ceremony. The Governor General of Canada. 1 June 2016. 18 September 2016.
  2. Web site: Michael Hood, Chief of Staff. JDS Mining. 30 December 2019.
  3. Web site: Michael Hood. RIMPAC 2012. 17 May 2015.
  4. Web site: New commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force announced . 5 September 2012 . Aviation . 2016-09-15 .
  5. Web site: Maj.-Gen. Mike Hood next commander of Royal Canadian Air Force. CBC News. 11 February 2015.
  6. Web site: Lieutenant-General Michael Hood: Change of command ceremony speech. Royal Canadian Air Force. 10 July 2015.
  7. Web site: Military promotions and retirements: RCAF Commander Lt.-Gen. Hood leaving. Ottawa Citizen. 30 December 2019.
  8. Web site: Executive Team . JDS Energy & Mining . 9 May 2020.
  9. News: Hood . Michael . Securing Canadian sovereignty in a post-COVID world . National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc . 5 May 2020.
  10. News: Brewster . Murray . New RCAF commander Michael Hood sets tone on dealing with sexual misconduct . 9 May 2020 . The Star.
  11. Web site: Order of Military Merit List. The Governor General of Canada.
  12. Book: Commonwealth & Foreign Honours to Members of Her Majesty's Canadian Armed Forces . 2017 . Directorate of Honours and Recognition . National Defence Headquarters . 978-0-660-08826-6 .
  13. Web site: Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 154, Number 31: GOVERNMENT HOUSE. Public Works and Government Services Canada. Government of Canada. August 1, 2020. canadagazette.gc.ca.
  14. Web site: RCAF change of command marks new era . Skiesmag.com . 13 January 2023.