A Private’s journey to command: 435 Squadron’s Commanding Officer reflects on career, leadership

As a son of a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) transport pilot, Lt.-Col. Arthur “Art” Jordan was familiar with the military lifestyle, but it wasn’t until he walked through the gates of 8 Wing Trenton in 1989 that he embraced all the possibilities the CAF has to offer.

And like all journeys, the road, or perhaps the air path, to becoming the commanding officer (CO) at 435 “Chinthe” Transport and Rescue Squadron (435 SQN) had to start somewhere.

Enter Penhold, Alberta: home to the now-decommissioned Air Reserve National Training School and the former Penhold Air Cadet Summer Training Centre (the latter used for the last time in August 2014).

“As a private aero engine technician (AET), I completed both my basic military training and the first six weeks of my common trades training at the School,” begins Lt.-Col. Jordan. “After that I began working on aircraft including the CC-109 Cosmopolitan and the CC-144 Challenger.”

Like many Reservists at the time, Lt.-Col. Jordan balanced post-secondary studies with part-time work.

“I started my university studies at Carleton University in Ottawa (Ontario), while I worked as a technician at the Base Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Organization (BAMEO) located at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Ottawa, Uplands.”

With the disposal of the CC-109, the handing over the CC-144 to civilian maintenance crews, and the closure of CFB Uplands in October 1994, Lt.-Col. Jordan headed back to CFB Trenton and started working with 8 Air Maintenance Squadron (8 AMS) all the while continuing his university studies , this time through his hometown’s own Queen’s University (located in Kingston, Ontario).

“The 1990s were challenging times for the CAF as the organization went through a number of changes,” remembers Lt.-Col Jordan. “One of those changes was the review of the 500 series trades, of which my occupation was one. By January 1997, thirteen 500 series technical trades were amalgamated into one off-aircraft occupation (image technician) and three on-aircraft occupations: aircraft structures (ACS) technician, aviation systems (AVN) technician, and avionic (AVS) systems technician.”

But, as much as he enjoyed the satisfaction of being able to resolve a maintenance snag and get an aircraft back in service, he wanted to contribute more.

Finally completing his degree in Politics and Economics through the Royal Military College (RMC) of Canada’s Continuing Studies program, then Corporal Jordan applied to be an officer through the special commissioning plan (SCP).

“Everything changed,” smiles Lt.-Col. Jordan. “One night, in February 1999, I went to work at

8 AMS and was informed by my commanding officer that I had been accepted as an air navigator, an occupation that has since been replaced by the Air Combat Systems Officer (ACSO) trade.”

“A few days later, while I was in the middle of changing a propeller with the rest of the maintenance crew, one of the other technicians removed the tools from my hands, pointed to a spot on the shop floor, and said in jest: ‘Sir, stand there and (try to) stay out of the way.’”

Having already completed his junior leadership course (now primary leadership qualification), Lt.-Col. Jordan was sent to the now-named Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean (Quebec) for the second phase of basic officer training.

“There were eight (8) of us who had prior experience as non-commissioned members,” recalls Lt.-Col. Jordan. “Having anywhere between eight and fifteen years of experience, we certainly brought a different flavour to the course.”

“Leadership opportunities come in many forms,” adds Lt.-Col. Jordan. “While we were trainees ourselves, we were able to provide our inexperienced course mates some added perspective. For example, we were able to convey that seemingly mundane tasks and inspections were not designed as punishment; rather, they were designed to bring us together as a team through the development of common experiences.”

After completing his basic officer training and second-language training, Lt.-Col. Jordan was sent to the RCAF’s navigation school located in Winnipeg (Manitoba) where he remained until his wings graduation in March 2001.

“My first operational tour as a navigator was with 435 Squadron,” says Lt.-Col Jordan. “Completing my CC-130 Hercules navigator course I started flying in support of strategic airlift missions around Canada and the world, a job that only became more important after September 11, 2001.”

By the end of June 2002, Lt-Col Jordan obtained his specialty in search and rescue (SAR).

“At the time, aircrews learned to fly strategic airlift first before specializing in air-to-air refuelling, tactical airlift, or SAR. Now CC-130 (H) Hercules crews all train for SAR right off the bat.”

Completing the aerospace systems course (ASC) at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Studies (now known as RCAF W/C William G. Barker VC Aerospace College) in 2005, it would not be another seven years until he would once again serve with 435 SQN this time in a succession of roles. Moving from his area of specialty in aircraft navigation, Lt.-Col. Jordan’s exposure to squadron operations expanded to the extent where he became responsible for overseeing the whole of 435 SQN’s operations and missions.

“Everything you learn goes into a bag of experience,” reveals Lt.-Col. Jordan. “Where you are faced with a situation, a problem, or something new, you can reach into that bag and usually find something that you can use to help you.”

In subsequent postings, Lt.-Col Jordan would continue to reflect back on both his own experiences and the experiences of others to affect positive changes in the RCAF and in the CAF as a whole including the re-establishment of a medical clinic on RMC grounds and the creation of a student success centre.

“Improving the life and welfare of RMC’s cadets was at the heart of the work that my team did,” summarizes Lt.-Col. Jordan.

After his tenure at RMC, Lt.-Col Jordan returned to Winnipeg as the Senior Staff Officer (SSO) SAR at 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters (1 CAD HQ). And while his previous experience with 435 SQN informed his knowledge of day-to-day SAR operations at an RCAF squadron, his term as SSO SAR broadened his perceptions of SAR across Canada.

“The OICs (officer in command) of each Regional Coordination Centre reported to me to keep me apprised of their SAR cases and the challenges they faced in the execution of the SAR mission,” says Lt.-Col. Jordan. “I would also be contacted by the SAR squadrons on various matters relating to SAR training and operations.

His experiences reinforced what is still true today: search and rescue in Canada is only possible through the cooperation of many organizations that cross federal, provincial, municipal and sometimes international jurisdictions. “Teamwork and communication is key.”

Taking command of 435 SQN on 31 July 2020, Lt.-Col. Jordan was faced with two challenges: being a leader in the COVID era and preparing his squadron for the upcoming fixed-wing search and rescue (FWSAR) conversion.

“SAR is a twenty-four hour, seven-day-a-week no fail mission,” stresses Lt.-Col. Jordan. “And where we demand a lot from our people, I recognize the need for balance between work and home. Where I can, I give people time off.”

Finally, when asked what he would like to do next after his time in command, Lt.-Col. Jordan was quick to reply: “I would like to be the CAOC (Canadian Air Operations Centre) Director next. It would be very challenging, demanding even, but to have your finger on the pulse of the Air Force is an exciting thing for someone who wants to operate at a global level.”